Johnson's New Illustrated Family Atlas

Johnson’s New Illustrated Family Atlas, published by Alvin Jewett Johnson and Benjamin P. Ward of 113 Fulton Street, New York, was one of the most widely distributed American atlases of the mid to late 19th century. First issued in the 1860s, the atlas featured a richly illustrated collection of hand-coloured lithographic maps, many with decorative borders and vignettes depicting landmarks, figures, and events. Its content covered not only the United States in fine detail—with frequent updates through the 1870s reflecting westward expansion, territorial, border, and Civil War changes—but also included maps of the rest of the world, historical charts, and thematic diagrams. Prized today for its distinctively American 19th century aesthetic and historical content, Johnson’s atlas offers a vivid snapshot of the rapidly evolving American geography of the era.