Torr Antiques & Decorative Arts

Description

UNITED STATES drawn and engraved by John Rapkin for "The Illustrated Atlas and Modern History of the World" published by Tallis & Co in 1851.

An attractive and decorative mid 19th map of United States illustrated with vignette engravings of the flag, portraits of Washington and Franklin, Washington's Monument, a Buffalo hunt, Penns Treaty with the Indians and the Seal of the State of New York (Excelsior).

Original outline hand colouring which has been augmented with additional later hand-colouring. The colouring of the vignettes and border, which was undertaken by a specialist, has enhanced the decorative appeal of this attractive map.

In excellent condition and from the preferred edition without the centre fold. This map was removed from the Atlas myself the covers were in poor condition and a few of the maps were already missing.

Printed on heavy grade paper, blank verso and unfolded.

Mounted in a cream mount and recently framed in good quality giltwood moulding, it is ready to hang.

Dimensions: Frame 49 x 41 cm (19 1/2" x 16 1/4") Image (mount window) 34 x 25.5 cm (13 1/2" x 10")
Postage & packing: £9.50 within the UK. Please contact us for a quote if you live overseas. We may have to remove the glazing for overseas deliveries to avoid any damage to the print.

Footnote: "This is a fascinating 1851 map of the United States by the English map and atlas publisher John Tallis and his engraver John Rapkin. Covers the United States from and Santa Fe north through the Missouri Territory to Canada and east to the Atlantic. The Trans-Mississippi region is exceptionally interesting with a fascinating (if somewhat inaccurate even at the time) depiction of the political geography. A long Narrow Nebraska territory extends to Canada. There is a large “Western Territory roughly where Oklahoma is today. Probably the most interesting element of this map is its curious treatment of the New Mexico territory. In the previous edition of this map, 1850, the area that is here New Mexico was part of the original Texas annexation. New Mexico Territory was created in 1850 following U.S. acquisition of Upper California (Alta California) in the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago - which ended the Mexican American War. Curiously, though Tallis is fully appraised of these events, as exhibited by his inclusion of the newly created New Mexico Territory, he does not extend it westward beyond the Rio Grand to include its charter claims in Upper California. Why Tallis made this decision is unclear though it may be a case of carto-advocacy in support of Mexico. Washington and Franklin medallions decorate the right and left borders. Decorative vignettes depicts a Buffalo Hunt, Penn’s Treaty with the Indians, and the Washington Monument. The whole has the highly decorative presentation and elaborate border distinctive of Tallis maps. Undated but, published by the John Tallis & Company, London & New York in 1851." (wikimedia)