Publication Chronology of
"Nebraska and Kanzas"
by J.H. Colton & Co. (Joseph Hutchins Colton)
1st Edition (1855-Atlas of America): Original plate. “No. 50”. Scrollwork border.
2nd Edition (1856-Atlas of the World; this atlas appeared in a two volume, and a one volume, edition):
Otoe City added, as well as a road from that settlement to the Platte River. (There was also a 2nd edition printed with a pale wash color, the reason for the color change being unknown.) “No. 50”. Scrollwork border.
3rd Edition (1857-General Atlas): Towns added in the north (Blackbird and Manhatten) and in the south (Archer and Pawneeville); trails running west from Missouri River added as well. Coloration for surrounding areas eliminated. “No. 52”. Plainline border. *A variant edition may have used the copyrighted 1857 map "Kansas and Nebraska" (see 1858.)
4th Edition (1857-Advertising Atlas of America) : Significant additions to settlements, trails, and Indian nations, all using a new font; “Dakota” added west of Minnesota. *This plate was used by A.J. Johnson in his Family Atlas from 1860-1866. “No. 50”. Scrollwork border.
1858: Colton produced a General Atlas for this year, with the above map replaced by "Kansas and Nebraska," a double-page map of the eastern sections of the territories (see "The Atlas Maps of J.H. Colton and A.J. Johnson, 1857-1863")
Note: in 1859, Colton prodocued a smaller dimension atlas (roughly, 15" x "12) entitled the Cabinet Atlas. The maps in the atlas all bear a copyright date of 1858. Nebraska is shown on a small scale, along with Kansas, from the 99th meridian eastward on a sheet with the state of Minnesota. The western part of the territory is also shown on a very small scale map of the whole western United States. These maps were also used in Colton's School Atlas (1857.) The full size (folio) General Atlas continued as well, with the publishing done by A.J. Johnson, and the double page map of eastern Nebraska and Kansas being used.
REFERENCE:
Croft, B & C. Maps of Nebraska.