Sandhaus said he acquired the rights to reproduce the map from a New York City expert he called the world's leading rare map dealer. "If you were going to choose four or five maps that tell the story of America, of coming across east to west, this (the Mitchell map) in a way would be the punch line."

It was the most up-to-date chart of its time, showing "all the routes leading out of Independence, Missouri," and other routes such as the Spanish Trail that reached Utah, Sandhaus added.

He said it was the "definitive trail map in the mid-19th century." It is extremely rare today because it was really used, with people packing it with them on the trail.

After gold was discovered in California, the maps were so much in demand that often "they got really beat up."

The Mitchell map was printed both in hand-colored and black and white editions.

An original print of the black and white version is in the holdings of the Church Historical Department, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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