1893 Aspen Colorado Birds Eye View Map

There are a few different varieties of this rare Colorado map. One would think that there would be only two types of this map, the original Lithograph, & then the many reproductions that have followed throughout the years. The reproductions are easy to tell apart from the original since they would be photo mechanical copies & bear the “dot matrix” printing associated with collotype or halftone printing techniques. A litho on the other hand, to the trained eye is hard to miss.

I first became acquainted with “Birds Eye View” maps through Amon Carter. He assembled one of the most extensive collections of these hard to find maps for the state of Texas. Beautiful & detailed, it’s hard not to fall in love with these historic items. So when I found an example on Aspen, Colorado in December of 2009, I was really quite excited. I had heard of the maps existence in previous years, but frankly, never thought I would have the pleasure of actually owning one. I never dreamed that there would not be any kind of reference material that would chronicle the history of such a fine map or that there would actually be several versions of the original lithograph.

Dated 1893 in large black numbers in the central credit text at the base of the map, these maps were first made available on June 17, 1893, through the Aspen Daily Times. During June & July of that year, they were offered "For Sale" for $1 each "Properly Rolled" and "Postage Paid" in the USA & Canada. I also know that this was standard practice of the time to sell this style of map either directly from the artist, printing company, or through local distributors. Starting in August thru November of 1893 these maps were "Free" to anyone who subsribed to either the Daily Times, Weekly Times, or Daily Chronicle. (note: these were described at the time as 3 color lithographs since black was not considered a color) .

There are at least 5 different map varieties, all Lithographs & all marked with the Hudson-Kimberly company TM. I would imagine that there may actually be others as well. A fascinating discovery for such a seldom seen item! I will do my best to describe the varieties that I have found, and the questions that arise with 2 that do not conform to known genuine examples as follows.

First is the Denver Public Library (DPL) specimen.   T-2
I start with this since it is the easiest example to date & attribute.
Library ID# CG4314 .A72A3 1893 .K6 1899

Image Size (*) is 27.25” x 38.375”          Paper Size is 30.25” x 41.25”
69 cm x 97.5 cm                                       77 cm x 105 cm
measured January 2010 & remeasured May 2010    (*) does not include 1 1/8" of text at bottom

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1. “Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co. Kansas City” at image base lower right
2. “William’s Lake and Race Course” text in image with blue lake inside race course
3. “Red Mountain” and “Smuggler Mountain” text in sky area.
4. “Red” is skewed in Red Mountain text - particularly the “R”
5. Clouds at top far right form two separate formations and have ½” of blue sky above the top formation.
6. There are 4 mountain peaks visible below these cloud formations.
7. There are no clouds above the Smuggler Mountain peak.
8. Legend includes 83 points of interest.

Additionally, the back of this map is printed with the front & back page of the Aspen Daily Times newspaper dated “Tuesday Morning February 14th 1899" **

Observation: it would seem that any map that originated in this newspaper format would be folded vertically at the center since it was basically a fold out page of that days newspaper. A lighter horizontal center fold should also be presant. The DPL example is folded into 8ths that include a vertical center fold as well as a horizontal fold and then another vertical fold as well. This map has separated at many of the folds & exhibits paper loss at several of the major intersections.

Third is the Aspen Pitkin County Library specimen. T-3

This is under glass in the main library room

Image & Paper Size = Exact Same As DPL specimen

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Same as DPL specimen above

Additionally, the back of this map is unknown as it was at one time "Dry Mounted" to foam core. Overprinted at top with "Compliments of B. Clark Wheeler..." advertisement at top.

Observation: Virtually the same in every respect to the DPL specimen. Has 3 vertical creases & 1 horizontal fold visible. Possibly issued in newspaper format. Rather unique "advertising" variety.

I am aware of another specimen that has lots of blue sky above the mountains including another cloud above Smuggler Mountain peak. I still need to find out if it is a litho & other details.

Curtis at Old Map Gallery was also very helpful in recalling he thought there were 5 specimens in private collections he was aware of.

Colorado School of Mines may also have an example. Need to check this out.

A second example may exist in Aspen Historical Socity archives, but is reported to be in "terrible" condition.

“William’s” was involved in the sponsorship of this map & wanted his planned "lake and race course" included in it. This feature was merely a "holding pond" at the time & in fact was never constructed. Later reproductions of this map omit the blue lake from the center of the race course.

You could have not picked a worse time to sell these maps. 1893 spelled the end of an era of silver by therepeal of the "Sherman Silver Act". Almost immediately mines and smelters began to shut down in Colorado. Silver prices dropped from .83 cents to .62 cents an ounce in one 4 day period. Banks closed their doors and real estate values plummeted. The Aspen economy took a huge hit! The 1893 population of 12,000 shrunk to 3,300 by 1900 & down to 705 in 1930. Not at all a time to make additional printings of these maps.

Big question… does the original art still exist somewhere???

PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE IN POSSESION OF ONE OF THESE RARE MAPS. (be sure it has the "Hudson-Kimberly"TM at lower right)

Eighth is the “Window Pane” specimen . Sold by The Old Map Gallery 2009 (1).
& Sold by Barry Lawrence Ruderman 2010 (2). T-4?

Image Size is reported (2) as 78 cm x 102cm This would equal 30.5” x 39.75”
Also reported (1&2) as 29” x 39.5” This would equal 73.5 cm x 100 cm
Since these measurements do not “Add Up”, actual size needs further research

(Curtis at Old Map Gallery was very helpful in recalling he thought his measurement of 29" x 39.5" included the printed text at the bottom. He also thought that there was additional margin not shown in photos)

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Appear from photos to be the same as DPL specimen above (see photo below left)

Additionally, the back of this map is uncertain. ( Curtis at Old Map Gallery says he remembers that this map may have had Aspen Times Newsprint on the back, but only parts were visible thru the canvas it is glued to, Issue date unknown)

Observation: visually the same as the DPL specimen except possibly larger in size by 1” to 2”. May also have a coarser / deeper color printing. If larger in size, it could not have been published in the 1899 newspaper format since it would not “fit the page”. Possibly an earlier/later printing from a slightly larger size newspaper edition? Needs further research. The actual “as printed” size is also debatable since this specimen was reconstructed & glued to canvas from 28 separate pieces. Some “stretching” of the image has occurred in the process.

Ninth is the “3 Color” specimen . Sold by Barry Lawrence Ruderman 2009. T-5

Image is missing Green color printing (see image above right)

Image Size is reported as 78 cm x 102cm This would equal 30.5” x 39.75”
And 31” x 41” This would equal 78.75 cm x 104 cm
Since these measurements do not “Add Up”, actual size needs further research.

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

Same as previous, Except...
1. “Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co.” at image base lower right. "Kansas City" has been omitted.
5. Clouds at top far right form two separate formations and top formation is cut off at border.
6. There are 2 mountain peaks visible below these cloud formations.

Additionally, the back of this map is blank.

Observation: Free of any folds or creases. Possibly a larger overall Image size, but the image itself is cropped down @ ½” at top & 1” at right side from DPL example. Has a plate # notation below Hudson-Kimberly & a second partial notation at bottom edge indicative of a proof or sample impression. This is by far the highest quality paper & image reported thus far. Would be a monster if it had the green printing!

Seventh is the Ed Smart specimen . A long time Aspen resident & mining operator. T-1

This is the specimen featured in the photo at the top of this page
Image Size = Exact Same As DPL specimen

Paper Size is 30.75” x 41.375” 78 cm x 105 cm

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Same as DPL specimen above

Additionally, the back of this map is blank. Mounted & linen backed with restoration April 2010.

Observation: Virtually the same in every respect to the DPL specimen except without the Aspen Times printing on reverse & free of any folds or creases. Slightly larger overall paper size that can be attributed to the DPL specimen being trimmed slightly when being sized for inclusion into newspaper format. This is the Type 1 "For Sale" version of this map. Unfortunately the area near the “Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co. Kansas City” was damaged on this specimen and only "Hudson-Kimberly Pu" is still visible.

Second is the Aspen Daily Times specimen T-2

Under glass in the publishers office

Image & Paper Size = Exact Same As DPL specimen

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Same as DPL specimen above

Additionally, the back of this map has News Paper printing. Date yet to be determined.

Observation: Virtually the same in every respect to the DPL specimen. Has also 3 vertical & 1 horizontal creases. Several areas of paper loss & fold seperations. Shows quite a bit of scotch tape repair & the staining associated with same.

Sixth is the Aspen Historical Society specimen. T-1

This is under glass in the Aspen Museum

Image Size = Exact Same As DPL specimen

Paper Size is uncertain as this map is framed & matted.

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Same as DPL specimen above

Additionally, the back of this map is blank. Archive Mounted & Framed.

Observation: Virtually the same in every respect to the DPL specimen except without the Aspen Times printing on reverse & free of any folds. This example does have a 12" corner crease at upper left, and water damage to the left side. This is the Type 1 "For Sale" version of this map.

Fourth & Fifth are the Colorado Historical Society specimens. T-2

These are in "Bound Volume" format within the state historical newspaper collection
Image Size = Exact Same As DPL specimen. Paper size is smaller due to trimming in binding process

VARIETY REFERENCE POINTS

1-8. Same as DPL specimen above

Additionally, the backs of these maps are dated February 15th & 16th, 1899. **

Observation: Virtually the same in every respect to the DPL specimen except with only one center vertical fold visible. A notch has been cut out of each of these measuring 1 5/8" wide by 6" high that "defaces" the text at bottom center extending into the map image. (reason unknown)

** Known "Newspaper" backs on these maps are dated February 14 - 16, 1899.

A huge winter snow storm hit Aspen on February 11-13 of 1899. The newspaper was unable to publish on both the 12th & 13th. Supply trains could not reach the community for several days & paper was in very short supply. In an effort to get the paper out, the leftover / remaining supply of these maps were used to issue emergency 1 page issues of the paper for three harrowing days. On February 17th the paper resumed printing in it's regular format.