Reviewed by: A Boundary Atlas of Texas, 1821–1845: Corner-Sourced Maps of the Mexican Province of Texas, the Departments, Empresario Grants, Mexican Municipalities, Chief Justice Counties, Counties of the Republic, the Judicial Counties, the Colonies, Petitions from Individuals Seeking the Creation of New or Alteration of Existing County Boundaries, and the 1836 Land Offices by Jim Tiller et al. Gary Pinkerton A Boundary Atlas of Texas, 1821–1845: Corner-Sourced Maps of the Mexican Province of Texas, the Departments, Empresario Grants, Mexican Municipalities, Chief Justice Counties, Counties of the Republic, the Judicial Counties, the Colonies, Petitions from Individuals Seeking the Creation of New or Alteration of Existing County Boundaries, and the 1836 Land Offices. By Jim Tiller with Nancy Tiller and Gang Gong. ( Austin: Texas General Land Office, 2020. Pp. 517. Illustrations, notes, bibliography, appendices, index.) It is possible to purchase a candle with a scent called "Old Books." The combination of aged paper and dusty shelves, with a hint of vanilla, is meant to stimulate one's senses and transport us to the libraries of our youth, where the aroma of old books cast its spell and pulled us toward greater knowledge. This is not a common way to review a book, but it was my first reaction to holding one of the few limited-edition copies of A Boundary Atlas of Texas, 1821–1845. The long subtitle for this work is representative of its size and fully describes its contents. Geographer Jim Tiller, cartographer Nancy Tiller, and geographic information systems professional Gang Gong have combined their talents to produce a work of a lifetime. Any researcher familiar with the difficulties of understanding the boundaries of pre-statehood jurisdictions will immediately appreciate the value of this remarkable effort. For example, the empresario grant to David G. Burnet dated December 22, 1826, has a long description that starts with "the town of Nacogdoches thence on a north course the distance of 15 leagues to a point clear of the 20 Boundary Leagues." Boundary Atlas of Texas converts these textual descriptions into a color map, simple and clear in content and style, and presents it with heavily noted references. Fittingly, each map is accompanied by source text, references, and author comments, citations, and notes on the corners of each boundary. Beyond the value of the historical data and geographic reference, the printed books are a sensual feast. Only seventeen copies of the three-inch thick leather-bound books have been produced, each measuring 14 by 18.5 inches and weighing 14.5 pounds. The authors and donors have placed copies with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the Texas State Library and Archives in Austin, the Dallas Public Library, and the [End Page 91] Clayton Library in Houston, as well as university libraries at Sam Houston State University, the University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, the University of Texas Arlington, and the University of Oklahoma. Remaining copies are in the hands of collectors. However, the copyright has been assigned to the Texas General Land Office, where the Boundary Atlas is available in two forms. Viewing the Nancy and Jim Tiller Digital Collection at the GLO Map Store will display each of the 463 maps. They are fully indexed and searchable. Features of the GLO website allow the user to zoom in to detail on each map. In that form, however, the maps are without the notes and reference data that provide the richness of detail for research purposes. For a full PDF-version of the atlas, contact the GLO, and they will provide one for $50, the content fully matching the printed volumes. Although the PDF will not smell as good as the leather-bound volume, the achievement of the work and the value of the research will likely overpower one's senses nonetheless. Gary Pinkerton Houston, Texas Copyright © 2021 The Texas State Historical Association
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