Lot 569: Cherokee Land Lottery Book, 1838

THE CHEROKEE LAND LOTTERY, CONTAINING A NUMERICAL LIST OF THE NAMES OF THE FORTUNATE DRAWERS IN SAID LOTTERY WITH AN ENGRAVED MAP OF EACH DISTRICT, by James F. Smith. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1838. First edition. 8vo., 414pp, plus publisher's advertisements; full leather covers, red spine label and gilt title; 9" H x 5-5/8" W. Contains multiple maps and a comprehensive list of citizens who, following a series of lotteries, were awarded land (in 160 acre lots) that had been appropriated by the state of Georgia after the forcible removal of the Cherokee in 1838. Note:The original Cherokee Indian territory became Cherokee County by an Act of December 26, 1831. A law passed on December 3, 1832, divided original Cherokee County into ten counties: Cass (renamed Bartow), Cherokee, Cobb, Floyd, Forsyth, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Murray, Paulding, and Union. In the drawing of tickets and in the granting of the land, the area was treated only as Cherokee territory. It was divided between land lots distributed by the sixth land lottery and "gold" lots that were distributed by the seventh land lottery. The territory was so expansive that Cherokee County was divided into four sections, and each section was divided into districts. There were a total of 60 land districts, and each was divided into land lots. Fractional lots of 100 acres and more were counted as whole lots. (Source: Georgia Archives). Note: another copy of this rare book sold in our Summer 2024 auction, lot 490.

PROVENANCE: The estate of Delores Farr, Signal Mountain, TN.

CONDITION: Fair condition, with wear and rubbing to covers, fading to spine, separation to top; front board starting to separate from page block; writing to interior pages front and back; foxing, staining etc.; front free end paper through title page separating from spine.