Publication Chronology of
"Colton's Map of Kansas Nebraska, Dakota and Indian Territory."
by Joseph Hutchins Colton / George Woolworth Colton & Charles B. Colton
(Copyright for all maps is 1855; some, however, appear with no copyright. The plate/lithograph was a production between J.H. Colton, A.J. Johnson, and D. Griffing Johnson, the latter producing a large map of the Unites States starting in 1857)
Late 1863: Large (yellow) Idaho in NW corner; "Dakota" noted above Nebraska. Plainline border.
Early 1864: Split "Dakota" (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming of today) with smaller yellow rectangle in the northwest (Montana-unnamed.) "Dakota" noted above Nebraska. Scrollwork border.
1864: Split "Dakota" (North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming of today) with Montana named in the northwest. "Dakota" name stretching from Wyoming above Nebraska. Plainline border. "J.H. Colton" listed as publisher; he retired, giving the business to his sons, at some time in 1864.
*1864: Colton produces a small atlas, entitled Colton's Octavo Atlas of the Union with a map showing the northern plains on a very small scale. The double page map, measuring 11" x 8" inches, is titled "J.H. Colton's Map of Nebraska Dakota and Montana." The atlas also appears in 1865.
1865: Same as in 1864, but with “Dakota” text above Nebraska and "Montana" not labeled as such. Title font has also changed, and no publisher is listed under title. Scrollwork border.
1866: Same as above early (publisher now listed-"G.W. & C.B. Colton"); 2nd (second) edition with the to-be-Wyoming section cut off with a red ink line and "Montana" labeled in a more curved, vertical form.
1867: Same as above, but with counties in Nebraska now running down the Platte River on both sides.
*Following the above map, in early to mid 1868, a double-page map of the state appears in the General Atlas with a copyright of 1867 and the title changed to "Colton's Township Map of the State of Nebraska." In 1869, the title was changed simply to "Colton's Nebraska." The plate/lithograph used from 1868 to 1872 was a slightly modified (mostly along the South Platte river) version of that which first appeared on their 1867 pocket map, entitled, as in the 1868 atlas, edition, "Colton's Township Map of the State of Nebraska."
REFERENCE:
Croft, B & C. Maps of Nebraska.