Boundary Marker at St. Croix River Source, A Historic Diplomatic Monument, 1831, Print

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Title: boundary marker at st. Croix river source, 1817 – a historic diplomatic monument : this detailed hand-colored lithograph depicts … Read more Title: boundary marker at st. Croix river source, 1817 – a historic diplomatic monument : this detailed hand-colored lithograph depicts the new monument erected on july 31, 1817, at the source of the st. Croix river, marking a critical boundary between the united states and british north america, now canada. It was sketched by colonel joseph bouchette, a prominent british surveyor and cartographer, and lithographed by louis haghe, one of the 19th century's most skilled lithographers. The work was published around 1831 as part of bouchette's the british dominions in north america. The scene shows the monument standing in a dense forest, surrounded by inclined stones and survey markers. Surveyors' tents are visible in the background, providing a sense of historical activity and precision. The text inscribed on the lithograph details the monument's significance: - north face: coll. Jos bouchette h.b.m. Surr. Genl. Var 130°51'2" west - east face: new brunswick, july 31, 1817 - south face: john johnson. U.s. Surveyor & s.g.v.t. - west face: united states, july 31, 1817 at the base of the monument, two inclined stones bear the initials of the territories, nb for new brunswick and us for united states, alongside the initials of the surveyors, jb for joseph bouchette and jj for john johnson. An iron hoop affixed to a beech tree serves as an earlier boundary marker dating back to 1797. This lithograph combines historical documentation with artistic skill, offering a rare visual record of the diplomatic efforts and survey work that defined the borders of early 19th-century north america. Significance 1. Historical context: this monument represents the resolution of a boundary dispute originating from the 1794 jay treaty, which required precise border delineation between british north america and the united states. 2. Artistic excellence: bouchette's detailed sketch and haghe's expert lithography result in a visually striking and historically meaningful piece. 3. Textual significance: the detailed inscriptions and context add to its educational and historical value, providing insight into early surveying methods and diplomacy. This lithograph is a valuable artifact for collectors interested in cartographic history, canadian-american relations, or 19th-century lithography. See less