BajaNomad

1787 Map of the two Californias

David K - 9-14-2014 at 04:33 PM



Nueva California and Antigua California (New and Old California, but later would be officially Upper 'Alta' and Lower 'Baja' California).

The two Californias were one political province until 1804.

[Edited on 9-14-2014 by David K]

David K - 9-27-2014 at 10:44 AM

Any old style Spanish people have an idea why the n's in Antigua California are reversed?

bkbend - 9-27-2014 at 11:53 AM

They knew the antigua was going to remain a backwards territory for a long time while the nuevo portion would move forward.

El Vergel - 9-27-2014 at 12:22 PM

Wow, what a beautiful map!

mexicali-kid - 9-28-2014 at 10:33 AM

Great map. From Palou's book on Padre Serra correct?

I think the map maker engraved the mirror image of the letters for the printing plate but when he got to the N he had a little too much California Vino.

Thank you for sharing this thought provoking map.

Udo - 9-28-2014 at 12:58 PM

Great find, DK...Thanks for sharing!

David K - 9-29-2014 at 10:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mexicali-kid
Great map. From Palou's book on Padre Serra correct?

I think the map maker engraved the mirror image of the letters for the printing plate but when he got to the N he had a little too much California Vino.

Thank you for sharing this thought provoking map.


Exactly!
"Map of Old and New California from the original in Palou's Life of Junipero Serra." (1787)



[Edited on 9-29-2014 by David K]

David K - 11-5-2015 at 09:34 AM

This 1787 map came up in a conversation I was having... It is the first map to show two Californias. The line between them was not political, it was just a way to show territory division between the Franciscans in the New (Nueva) California and Dominicans in the Old (Antigua) California. That division was made in 1773 at Medano Valley (near Puerto Nuevo). It was moved north to Arroyo del Rosarito in 1788 where it remained until 1848 when it was moved north again to where it is now.

California was still one political province with one governor, until 1804.