Decorative Tallis Western Australia, Swan River map c1851.

by John Tallis & Company

Tallis antique map of Western Australia. Swan River colony, c1851 with contemporary colouring. The outlining of the named counties (done at the time of publication), the vignettes and finely engraved floral border and cartouche (title piece), all add to the appeal of this lovely map. This map is embellished by small engravings of a scene between Perth and Fremantle, Sheep Shearing, Aborigines, Perth from Mount Eliza, droving, a shipping scene, and the seal of Perth featuring the black swan.

Original antique map engraved on steel by John Rapkin, with decorative title, finely engraved floral border, and vignettes, drawn by A.H. Wray and engraved by W. Lacey circa 1851 by John Tallis and Company, London & New York. From 1850 to 1856 John Rapkin, the engraver of the maps, was greatly responsible for the fine reputation acquired by John Tallis and Company as publishers of accurate maps with finely-engraved borders and vignettes of subjects relating to the region.

This map has slight soiling, which is to be expected when it is over 160 years old. It is otherwise in fine condition with wide margins except for above the cartouche. With a central horizontal fold to accommodation inclusion in a publication half the size of the map, paper size is 352 x 268mm (approximately 13 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches). (Image is similar to but not the actual map. Actual map has slightly narrower margins, red outlining of coast and slightly fewer notations.)