Boston Rare Book Week Preview: Thoreau Survey Maps

Next weekend it's Boston's turn to host rare book collectors, dealers, and librarians. These bibliophiles will have their choice of two book fairs -- the Boston International Antiquarian Book Fair (Nov. 10-12) and the Boston Book & Ephemera Show (Nov. 11) -- one auction, and numerous exhibitions. On the blog this week, we'll be previewing some highlights.

Capping off this 'year of Thoreau,' today we feature three manuscript survey maps by Henry D. Thoreau, all of which head to auction at Skinner on November 12.

Here is Thoreau's "Plan of a Woodlot in Lincoln and Concord Mass.," from April 30, 1857. In brown ink on heavy wove paper, this survey marks out a three-acre piece of land and is docketed on the verso in Thoreau's hand. The estimate is $3,000-5,000.

Thoreau executed this "Plan of Robert D. Gilson's Mill in Littleton, Mass.," on May 9, 1857. In red and brown ink on heavy wove paper, this signed survey shows sketches of stone walls, the buildings, dam flume, and curb wheel. The estimate is $4,000-6,000.

The third and most colorful of the lot is this "Plan of that Part of Thomas Brooks' Woodlot, in Lincoln, Mass, which was burned over in the fall of 1857," completed on June 5, 1858. This large survey is also done in brown ink, but finished in green and red watercolors. The estimate is $5,000-7,000.

Images via Skinner