19th Century Survey Prints - Introduction
The 19th century United States Federal Government was interested to enlarge and examine the country’s land holdings to the west and the south. It commissioned many exploratory expeditions in order to research information about these lands, and their potential benefits, to the country. The expeditions included the United States and Mexico Boundary Survey, the United States Naval Astronomical Expedition to the Southern Hemisphere, and the United States Pacific Railroad Surveys.
Imagery prepared to describe the narratives and expedition findings included topographical landscapes, scientific specimens, native peoples, and anthropological artifacts encountered and collected. The expeditions were staffed with naturalists whose collected material many times found a home in the collections of the Smithsonian’s U.S. National Museum. Read more about the surveys.
"19th Century Survey Prints - Introduction" showing 38 items.
Page 3 of 4
Engraving of lizard species "Cnemidophorus Presignis"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Cnemidophorus presignis [sic]," now Ameiva ameiva (Giant ameiva or Amazon racerunner), from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. This is an unfinished proof signed by Charles Girard (1822–1895), whose final proof was published in 1855 by A.O.P. Nicholson in Washington, D.C. as Plate XXXVIII in his “Reptiles, fishes, crustacea” section of volume II of The United States Naval Astronomical Survey to the Southern Hemisphere.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1855
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Nicholson, A. O. P.
- publisher
- United States Navy
- author
- Gilliss, James Melville
- ID Number
- 2008.0175.25
- accession number
- 2008.0175
- catalog number
- 2008.0175.25
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of lizard species "Crotaphylus wislizenii"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Crotaphylus wislizenii [sic] [B & G],” now "Gambelia wislizenii" or Longnose leopard lizard, from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 31 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by S.F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- author
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.060
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.060
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of lizard species "Phrynosoma regale, Doliosaurus m'callii"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Phrynosoma regale [Girard] and Doliosaurus m’callii [Girard]”—now "Phrynosoma solare" (Regal horned lizard) and "Phrynosoma mcallii" (Flat–tail horned lizard); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 28 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by S.F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- author
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.062
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.062
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of lizard species"Euphryne obesus"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Euphryne obesus [Baird]”, now "Sauromalus ater" or Northern chuckwalla, from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 27 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by S.F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- author
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.068
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.068
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of snake species "Crotalus molossus"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Crotalus molassus [B & G],” or Black–tailed rattlesnake, from an original sketch likely drawn by John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 2 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, which was written by Spencer F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Nicholson, A.O.P.
- author
- Emory, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- author
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- publisher
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- GA*1367
- accession number
- 1888.20627
- catalog number
- 1367
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of snake species "Dryophis vittatus"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Dryophis vittatus [Grd],” now "Oxybelis aeneus" (Brown vine snake or Mexican vine snake), from John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia's original sketch. The illustration was published in 1855 by A.O.P. Nicholson in Washington, D.C. as Plate XXXVI in the “Reptiles, fishes, crustacea” section of volume II of The United States Naval Astronomical Survey to the Southern Hemisphere, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1855
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Nicholson, A. O. P.
- publisher
- United States Navy
- author
- Gilliss, James Melville
- ID Number
- 2008.0175.30
- accession number
- 2008.0175
- catalog number
- 2008.0175.30
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of snake species "Elaps nigrocinctus"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Elaps nigrocinctus [Grd]”, now "Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus" or Central American coral snake, from an original sketch John H. Richard (c.1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was published in 1855 by A.O.P. Nicholson in Washington, D.C. as Plate XXXV in the “Reptiles, fishes, crustacea” section of volume II of The United States Naval Astronomical Survey to the Southern Hemisphere, written by Charles Girard (1822–1895).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1855
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- book printer, publisher
- Nicholson, A. O. P.
- publisher
- United States Navy
- author
- Girard, Charles
- Gilliss, James Melville
- ID Number
- 2008.0175.08
- accession number
- 2008.0175
- catalog number
- 2008.0175.08
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Engraving of toad and salamander species"Scaphiopus couchii, Amblystoma proserpina, Amblystoma texana"
- Description
- William Dougal (1822–1895) of Washington, D.C. engraved this print of “Scaphiopus couchii [Baird], Ambytoma proserpina [B & G], and Ambystoma texana [Baird]”—; now Scaphiopus couchii (Couch’s spadefoot or Spadefoot toad), "Ambystoma mavortium" (Western tiger salamander) and "Ambystoma texanum" (Texas salamander); from an original sketch by John H. Richard (c. 1807–1881) of Philadelphia. The illustration was printed as Plate 35 in the “Reptiles” section of the second part of volume II of the Report on the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey, written by S.F. Baird (1823–1887). The volume was printed in 1859 by Cornelius Wendell of Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1859
- author
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- graphic artist
- Dougal, William H.
- printer
- Wendell, Cornelius
- author
- Emory, William H.
- publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- U.S. Army
- ID Number
- 2009.0115.059
- catalog number
- 2009.0115.059
- accession number
- 2009.0115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lithograph of "Cascades of the Columbia"
- Description
- The lithographic firm of Sarony, Major & Knapp (1857–1867) of New York printed this lithograph of “Cascades of the Columbia” originally drawn by John M. Stanley (1814–1872) of Detroit (1834–1840, 1864–1872) and Washington, D.C. (1850–1860). The illustration was printed as Plate XLV in the “General Report” of volume XII of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Narrative Final Report of Explorations for a Route for a Pacific Railroad, near the Forty–Seventh and Forty–Ninth Parallels of North Latitude, St. Paul to Puget Sound”. The volume was printed in 1860 by Thomas H. Ford in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date of book publication
- 1860
- printer
- Sarony, Major, & Knapp
- original artist
- Stanley
- author
- Stevens, Isaac Ingalls
- printer
- Ford, Thomas H.
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA*24834
- catalog number
- 24834
- accession number
- 1978.0612
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lithograph of "Indian Antiquities" pottery artifacts
- Description
- P.S. Duval and Company (c.1840s–1858) of Philadelphia printed this lithograph of “Indian Antiquities,” depicting South American woodenware, from an original sketch by John M. Stanley (1814–1872) of Detroit (1834–1840, 1864–1872) and Washington, D.C. (1850-1860). The illustration was published in 1855 by A.O.P. Nicholson in Washington, D.C. as Plate X in the “Indian remains” section of volume II of The United States Naval Astronomical Survey to the Southern Hemisphere, written by Thomas Ewbank (1792–1870).
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1855
- original artist
- Wallis, O. J.
- Dreser, William
- Herbst, Francis
- graphic artist
- Sinclair, Thomas
- Dougal, William H.
- Duval, Peter S.
- printer
- Nicholson, A. O. P.
- publisher
- United States Navy
- original artist
- Richard, John H.
- Stanley, John Mix
- Siebert, Selmar
- author
- Cassin, John
- Ewbank, Thomas
- Baird, Spencer Fullerton
- Gilliss, James Melville
- ID Number
- 2007.0204.01
- accession number
- 2007.0204
- catalog number
- 2007.0204.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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