“Map of the United States Exhibiting the Post Roads" by Abraham Bradley
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Archival Material
Date: 1796
Maker: Abraham Bradley
Place: United States of America
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width: 35 1/4 x 37 3/4 in. (89.54 x 95.89 cm)
Topics: Postal Administration
Early Nation's Period (1776-1800)
Description: This "First Sheet Comprehending the Nine Northern States, With Parts of Virginia and the Territories North of Ohio" is the earliest known section of Abraham Bradley's map series.
Abraham Bradley, Jr., a lawyer and topographer from Connecticut, was hired as a clerk in the General Post Office by Postmaster General Timothy Pickering in 1791. Bradley quickly made his name as the office’s authority on postal routes and schedules, many of which he devised himself. When Bradley published the first "Map of the United States, Exhibiting the Post-Roads, the Situations, Connections, and Distances of the Post-Offices," it was barely fifteen years after the War of Independence had ended. Most citizens of the fledgling United States could not conceive of the magnitude of the new nation. They searched for a national culture and identity after the final and official separation from Great Britain. This colorful series of maps, on display in almost every large post office, showed the public a consolidated country with national borders.
Some of Bradley's maps included detailed charts listing stagecoach schedules along the nation's principle post road. The inclusion of these schedules promoted, encouraged, and broadened popular notions of time that were otherwise confined to seasonal and religious practices. Citizens began to consider (and later demand adherence to) weekly and daily notations of time as measured by the institution of regularly-scheduled mail service.
A MAP OF THE United States Exhibiting Post Roads Distances Abraham Bradley Jun. The first that comprehending the New Northern States with part of Virginia and the Northern and Southern
Map of the United States Exhibiting the POSTROADS, the Situations, Connections & Distances of the POST-OFFICES Stage Roads, Canals, Parts of Entry and Delivery for Foreign Vessels and the Principal Rivers. Abraham Bradley Jun.
PROGRESS OF THE MAIL on the MAIN LINE.     POST TOWN STATE Summer Establishment Winter Establishment   From To From To     Barnes N.Y. Albany Albany Albany Albany   Albany N.Y. Barnes Barnes Barnes Barnes   Catskill N.Y. Albany Albany Albany Albany   Hudson N.Y. Catskill Catskill Catskill Catskill   P'keepsie N.Y. Hudson Hudson Hudson Hudson   Newburgh N.Y. P'keepsie P'keepsie P'keepsie P'keepsie   Middletown N.Y. Newburgh Newburgh Newburgh Newburgh   Port Jervis N.Y. Middletown Middletown Middletown Middletown   Monticello N.Y. Port Jervis Port Jervis Port Jervis Port Jervis   Ellenville N.Y. Monticello Monticello Monticello Monticello   Hurley N.Y. Ellenville Ellenville Ellenville Ellenville   Woodstock N.Y. Hurley Hurley Hurley Hurley   Marble N.Y. Woodstock Woodstock Woodstock Woodstock   Neversink N.Y. Marble Marble Marble Marble   Montgomery N.Y. Neversink Neversink Neversink Neversink   Portage N.Y. Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery Montgomery   Utica N.Y. Portage Portage Portage Portage   Whitesboro N.Y. Utica Utica Utica Utica   Oneida N.Y. Whitesboro Whitesboro Whitesboro Whitesboro   Canajoharie N.Y. Oneida Oneida Oneida Oneida   Cohoes N.Y. Canajoharie Canajoharie Canajoharie Canajoharie   Albany N.Y. Cohoes Cohoes Cohoes Cohoes   Troy N.Y. Albany Albany Albany Albany   Rensselaer N.Y. Troy Troy Troy Troy   P'keepsie N.Y. Rensselaer Rensselaer Rensselaer Rensselaer   Hudson N.Y. P'keepsie P'keepsie P'keepsie P'keepsie   Catskill N.Y. Hudson Hudson Hudson Hudson   Albany N.Y. Catskill Catskill Catskill Catskill   Barnes N.Y. Albany Albany Albany Albany  
Map of the United States, Exhibiting the
 POST-ROADS, the situations, connections & distances of the POST-OFFICES  Stage Roads, Counties, Ports of Entry and Delivery for Foreign Vessels, and the Principal Rivers. 
BY Abraham Bradley jun.
10  Xu's  Yuanzi , 6.
 Map of the United States Exhibiting the POST-ROADS, the situations, connections & distances of the POST-OFFICES Stage Roads, Counties, Ports of Entry and Delivery for Foreign Vessels, and the Principal Rivers. BY Abraham Bradley jun.
   PROGRESS of the MAIL on the MAIN LINE.   Miles POST TOWN Summer Establishment from April 1 st to October 1 st Winter Establishment from October 1 st to April 1 st   Progress Southward. Days. Progress Northward. Days. Progress Southward. Days. Progress Northward. Days.     0 Brewster Leave Leave   10 Mahon   20 Columbia   30 Newbern   40 Goldsboro   50 Wayne   60 Clinton   70 Cape   80 Princeton   90 Pollocksville   100 Winterville   110 Oldham   120 Waverly   130 Rock   140 North Tarboro   150 PORTLAND   160 Winton   170 Rock   180 PORTSMOUTH   190 Nashville   200 Greenville   210 Gum   220 DURHAM   230 Bratton   240 Greensboro   250 Greensboro   260 Winston   270 Winston   280 Winston   290 Winston   300 Winston   310 Winston   320 Winston   330 Winston   340 Winston   350 Winston   360 Winston   370 Winston   380 Winston   390 Winston   400 Winston   410 Winston   420 Winston   430 Winston   440 Winston   450 Winston   460 Winston   470 Winston   480 Winston   490 Winston   500 Winston   510 Winston   520 Winston   530 Winston   540 Winston   550 Winston   560 Winston   570 Winston   580 Winston   590 Winston   600 Winston   610 Winston   620 Winston   630 Winston   640 Winston   650 Winston   660 Winston   670 Winston   680 Winston   690 Winston   700 Winston   710 Winston   720 Winston   730 Winston   740 Winston   750 Winston   760 Winston   770 Winston   780 Winston   790 Winston   800 Winston   810 Winston   820 Winston   830 Winston   840 Winston   850 Winston   860 Winston   870 Winston   880 Winston   890 Winston   900 Winston   910 Winston   920 Winston   930 Winston   940 Winston   950 Winston   960 Winston   970 Winston   980 Winston   990 Winston   1000 Winston  
Explanation. Figures under the days of the week denote the hour A. afternoon P. forenoon. The small letters P. denote every Monday at 10 o'clock previous to arrival at Camden the next Monday 6 o'clock afternoon, and passing on arrival and departure along the double line it arrives at Philadelphia on Wednesday 7 o'clock, there it departs on Thursday at 10 o'clock. The day from the departure from Philadelphia from New York, southeast the summer establishment is from May 1 st to November 1 st and the winter establishment from November 1 st to May 1 st .
Deposited as the Act directs September 26 th 1796
WEST BAY
A M. AP OF THE United States Exhibiting Post Roads & Distances BY Abraham Bradley Jun r The first that comprehending the Nine Northern States, with part of Virginia and the Province of Pennsylvania
June 17 96
anno 1896
A MAP OF THE  United States Exhibiting Post Roads & Distances BY Abraham Bradley Jun r The first that comprehending the Nine Northern States, with part of Virginia and the Territory North of Ohio.
Explanation   --- Boundary Lines  — Post Roads  — Post Roads estimated by contract  — Post & Stage Roads  --- Stage Roads  ○ Post Offices are marked in Roman Letters  △ Post Roads & Distances for Carriers  □ Posts of Relay & Delivery for Domestic Mail 
WASHINGTON Capital 38° 54' North Latitude  Scale of Miles
PROGRESS of the MAIL on the MAIN LINE.
   POST TOWNS Summer Establishment from April 15 th to October 15 th Winter Establishment from October 15 th to April 15 th   Progress Southward Progress Northward Progress Southward Progress Northward     Brewers Mon 16th Tue 17th Wed 18th Thu 19th