Falkland Islands and Patagonia. John Tallis antique map c1851.

by John Tallis & Company

Decorative original map by John Tallis and Company c.1851, with finely engraved border, vignettes, and cartouche (title piece). The pale blue wash along the shorelines and the coloured pen outlining are contemporary (as published). Falkland Islands has vignettes of Jason Islands, Sea Eagles and Penguins. Patagonia vignettes are of Christmas Sound in Tierra del Fuego and Native Fugeans in a boat.

A finely detailed decorative antique map drawn and engraved by J. Rapkin, with illustrations drawn by Henry Winkles and engraved by W. Lacey for John Tallis & Company, London & New York. Tallis maps are distinctive for their finely engraved borders and small scenes of notable features within the region shown. John Tallis was the driving force behind Tallis and Company publications, but John Rapkin was greatly responsible for the company's high reputation for publishing accurate, finely engraved maps. Tallis maps were among the last decorative maps published, as this extra labour-intensive skilled work added considerably to the time and cost of production.

This antique map is as published, with the top of the cartouche and the title at the base of the map both cropped slightly (to enable inclusion in a publication half the size of the map). There is also slight separation of the left end of the horizontal centre fold. Page size is 355 x 270mm (approximately 14 x 10 5/8 inches)