Wilfred Stedman’s Battlefields of the Conquistadors in New Mexico presents the state as a living chronicle, where landscape and legend meet. Commissioned in 1942 by the New Mexico State Tourist Bureau, this pictorial and thematic map interweaves artistic relief with richly colored vignettes to chart centuries of conflict and encounter. A finely articulated legend decodes symbols for battle sites, army forts, pueblos, and historic routes, while decorative borders teem with combat scenes and portraits of figures who shaped the region. The result is a geographic narrative that celebrates the Land of Enchantment even as it records the struggles that formed it—an engrossing synthesis of art, storytelling, and history designed to guide the eye and stimulate inquiry in equal measure.

Early entries are traced with distinctive lines that follow the Conquistadors’ exploratory routes across the high desert and river valleys. From Coronado’s search for the fabled Seven Cities to Oñate’s northward push along the Camino Real, the map situates Spanish entradas within a dense constellation of pueblos and early settlements. Taos and Pecos appear not merely as points on a route but as cultural anchors, their placement signaling vital corridors of trade, resistance, and renewal. Santa Fe—later the territorial and state capital—emerges as a crossroads where imperial ambition, Indigenous persistence, and mission frontiers intersected, all rendered through expressive shading that hints at the terrain’s commanding role in every campaign.

Nineteenth-century New Mexico unfolds across the sheet with disciplined clarity. The network of army forts—Fort Sumner and Fort Bayard among them—speaks to federal efforts to project power over vast distances, while nearby pictorials evoke the hard geography of draws, mesas, and passes. The Civil War’s Battle of Glorieta Pass, often called the “Gettysburg of the West,” is placed between Santa Fe and Pecos, marking a decisive 1862 turning point that checked Confederate advance. Frontier violence is neither romanticized nor ignored: the little-remembered Kearl Massacre (1870) appears alongside the Lincoln County War (late 1870s to early 1880s), whose clashes around Lincoln and Ruidoso set the stage for legends like Billy the Kid. At Dog Canyon (1880), tight contouring and inset drama capture the brutal calculus of fighting in mountain defiles.

The Apache Wars and borderland upheavals are plotted with arresting immediacy. Geronimo’s 1885 raid flashes across the southern reaches toward Las Cruces and Mesilla, where forts and patrol routes converge, underscoring Fort Bayard’s strategic role in campaigns against mobile Apache bands. Pancho Villa’s 1916 incursion into New Mexico anchors the map’s modern coda, with routes and troop movements suggesting how international conflict spilled onto desert trails and rail-linked towns. Insets isolate pivotal engagements, while the title cartouche and margin scenes frame the narrative with heroic and cautionary imagery. Local wildlife, rendered in lively figures, reinforces the sense of place; the land itself—White Sands’ luminous basin, the forests around Chama, the red-rock country near Gallup—becomes an actor in history.

Stedman’s composition transforms New Mexico’s towns and landscapes into a coherent itinerary of remembrance. Albuquerque and Santa Fe connect to Silver City and Socorro through annotated trails; Lincoln and Fort Sumner draw the eye to stories of exile, endurance, and return; Carlsbad, Las Vegas, and Cimarron punctuate the plains with episodes of commerce, conflict, and community-building. Pueblos are honored as cultural keystones, not footnotes, and forts stand as reminders of shifting sovereignties. With its spirited border scenes, carefully explained symbols, and eloquent pairing of cartography and illustration, this map balances enchantment with exactitude—an educational and aesthetically compelling guide for collectors, historians, and anyone who wishes to trace, on one unforgettable sheet, the arc of New Mexico’s contested, resilient past.

Places on this map

• Santa Fe
• Fort Sumner
• Las Cruces
• Lincoln
• Albuquerque
• Mesilla
• Glorieta Pass
• Dog Canyon
• Fort Bayard
• Ruidoso
• Taos
• Socorro
• Gallup
• Cimarron
• White Sands
• Carlsbad
• Silver City
• Pecos
• Las Vegas
• Chama

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Pictorial representations of battles
• Historical routes marked with distinct lines
• Towns and settlements illustrated along with their historical relevance
• Army forts prominently displayed
• Pueblos depicted as cultural and historical sites
• Local wildlife included in artistic representations
• Colorful illustrations of significant historical figures
• Insets showcasing specific battle scenes
• Decorative borders with battle scenes and historical figures
• Title section embellished with artistry
• Legend explaining map symbols

Historical and design context

• Title: Battlefields of the Conquistadors In New Mexico
• Creator: Wilfred Stedman
• Date of creation: 1942
• Publisher: Prepared for free distribution by the New Mexico State Tourist Bureau
• Map size: 56x43 cm, folded into self-wrapped covers of 22x10 cm
• Pictorial and thematic map using artistic relief techniques and shading
• Adorned with pictorial images and battle scenes
• Illustrates historical battles in New Mexico from the Conquistadors through the Indian Wars
• Highlights key conflicts: Conquistadors’ 16th-century discoveries; Geronimo’s Raid (1885); Kearl Massacre (1870); Battle of Dog Canyon (1880); Lincoln County War (1875–81); Pancho Villa’s Raid (1916)
• Regions depicted: New Mexico, USA
• Serves as a geographical and historical narrative of New Mexico’s past
• Reflects the “Land of Enchantment,” celebrating New Mexico’s historical and cultural heritage
• Educational value enhanced by descriptive text on the verso cover

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 70in (180cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and customised products take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes 1 or 2 days.

Please note that very large framed orders usually take longer to make and deliver. 

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world. This means your order will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and ensures that it won't be damaged during delivery. You'll never pay customs or import duty, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps and art prints are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all orders within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks, mugs and tote bags) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

Next Day delivery is also available in some countries (US, UK, Singapore, UAE) but please try to order early in the day so that we can get it sent out on time.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

Se non sei soddisfatto del tuo ordine per qualsiasi motivo, contattami per un rimborso senza problemi. Si prega di consultare la nostra politica di reso e rimborso per ulteriori informazioni.

Sono molto sicuro che ti piacerà la tua mappa restaurata o la stampa d'arte. Lo faccio dal 1984. Sono un venditore Etsy a 5 stelle. Ho venduto decine di migliaia di mappe e stampe d'arte e ho oltre 5.000 recensioni reali a 5 stelle.

Utilizzo un processo unico per restaurare mappe e opere d'arte che richiede molto tempo e lavoro. Trovare le mappe e le illustrazioni originali può richiedere mesi. Utilizzo tecnologia all'avanguardia e incredibilmente costosa per scannerizzare e restaurarle. Di conseguenza, garantisco che le mie mappe e stampe d'arte siano superiori alle altre - ecco perché posso offrire un rimborso senza problemi.

Quasi tutte le mie mappe e stampe d'arte sembrano fantastiche a grandi dimensioni (200 cm, 6,5 piedi+) e posso anche incorniciarle e consegnarle a te, tramite un corriere speciale per oggetti di grandi dimensioni. Contattami per discutere delle tue esigenze specifiche.