For sale is the 1918 edition of the La Harpe 15-minute map. This map would be ideal for framing or display, historical reference or research, genealogy studies, adding to your collection, treasure hunting, a nice conversation piece, a gift for a history or map enthusiast, or for anyone interested in this area.

This sheet includes the first survey produced by the United States Geological Survey for the La Harpe 15-minute quadrangle. The map is an original 1918 USGS print. This rare 103-year-old-year-old sheet is a first-year printing and is in very good condition.

The La Harpe 15-minute map shows all roads, paths, towns, railroads, rivers, creeks, elevation contour lines, public land survey lines, county, state, and other administrative boundaries as they existed at the time of the survey in 1916. All known structures (houses, businesses, churches, schools, barns, cabins, etc) are also shown, with exceptions in some urban areas, where only landmark buildings may be shown.

The La Harpe map was field surveyed before aerial photography methods were widely used in map data gathering. It was drawn by cartographers based on plane table field survey information as well as information gathered from local residents in the area. It displays the remarkable abilities of early government map makers, who placed a strong emphasis on creating complete, accurate, and cartographically appealing maps.

Maps from the 15-minute series for the continental United States are no longer produced or printed by the USGS and original prints are becoming increasingly difficult to find. They are a valuable historical record for an area, as they contain many placenames and features that have been dropped from more recent maps.