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Joseph Hutchins Colton (J.H. Colton) .
Dates: 1800-1893.
Map type: very detailed, hand coloured steel engraved atlas/railway maps.

Born in New York on the turn of the century, Joseph Hutchins worked his way up from very humble beginnings. His first maps, like many mapmakers, were centred on familiar surroundings, in his case, New York; both the State and the City. Also following many 19th century mapmakers, these first maps were based on earlier works, and first appeared in around 1831.

Published for twenty years or so from 1835, in a vast array of guide books mainly for new immigrants to the continent, Colton achieved a reputation for his clear, concise and detailed maps. Joseph Colton was very successful for the time and enlisted the help of his two sons: George Woolworth Colton (1827 - 1901) and younger brother, Charles B. Colton (1832 - 1916). The business continued to publish until very nearly the end of the 19th century, continuing for another four years or so after the founders death. The maps are known for the well-recognized and practical style with a decorative border, often denoting the various editions, and, in most cases a title begining, 'Colton's...'. The plates were sold on to a number of other firms, the most prolific perhaps being 'Johnson & Ward', who usually only re-engraved the title with their own names. The most successful work of this family business was probably George Woolworth Colton's World atlas.

The maps were printed from steel plates on 19th century, machine-made paper, and hand coloured quite distinctively using mainly a pink pallette. As the commercial nature of the business governed the printing budget, both the paper and the colouring often suffered over time: the paper becoming brittle and the colour fading in sunlight. The maps do remain, however, as a notworthy collection of 19th century steel engraved commercial cartography.

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