War Department Weather Map (A Collection of Six Maps)

Washington DC: Published by Order of the Secretary of War, 1873. First Edition. Good. Six maps for: Monday, February 17, 1873 - 11 P. M.; Tuesday, February 18, 1873 - 7:35 A. M.; Tuesday, February 18, 1873 - 4:35 P. M.; Wednesday, February 19, 1873 - 7:35 A. M.; Wednesday, February 19, 1873 - 4:35 P. M.; Wednesday, February 19, 1873 - 11 P. M.; 8 3/4 x 11 1/2; relief shown by hachures and gradient tints; small reference table in the lower half of the image; edges brittle, with small chips and cuts; overall in good to very good condition.A scarce collection of maps, their publication began in January of 1871, with no less than 3 maps being published every day. Samuel Morse's invention of the telegraph had made it possible to easily observe, gather, and transmit data from different points over the entire country. A small note at the head read: "All observations made at the same moment of actual (not local) time." Released by the US Army's Signal Service, the maps were intented to be primarily used by farmers and merchants. They were published in at least three different sizes and formats, the current being one of the smaller ones. These particular maps showed precipitation and wind velocity at various elevation points.