New Zealand, Dunedin, & Tasmania. Antique Map c1900.

by Bartholomew, John

Decorative little antique map of New Zealand c1888, with inset of the region centred on Dunedin, and with a larger inset of Tasmania at top left - filling the space left of New Zealand, just as Dunedin fills the space at lower right, above the two lists of 63 names as Reference to 63 Counties formed 1876. The territorial authorities of the provincial era from 1853 to 1876 were replaced by counties and boroughs from 1876 to 1989 when the current system of regions, cities and districts was established. Cape Maria Van Diemen, Cape Reinga, and Islands of Three Kings protrude into the margin at the top of the map, and South Cape at the base of the Southern Island of New Zealand protrudes through the border into the margin at the base of the map.

Chromolithographic map by J.Bartholomew of Edinburgh, for the Handy Reference Atlas c1888 with contemporary colour outlining of counties. John George Bartholomew FRSE FRGS LLD (1860-1920) joined his father’s business at the age of 17, and succeeded him in 1888. He had ambition and vision, particularly with regard to geography. In 1889 the company moved to larger premises on Park Road. Hoping to create ‘a site for the promotion of national geographic knowledge’ he renamed both the firm and the building ‘The Royal Edinburgh Geographical Institute’. In 1884 he helped to establish the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. He supported Patrick Geddes’ proposal for a National Institute of Geography in 1902, and the teaching of geography at Edinburgh University in 1909. The Royal Geographical Society (RGS) awarded John George Bartholomew the RGS Victoria medal in 1905. Edinburgh University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 1909 in recognition or ‘his pre-eminence as a cartographer and of his signal services to geographical science’. In 1910 Bartholomew received the honour of Geographer and Cartographer to the King for Scotland (a title held by the firm until 1962).

This lovely little map has a central horizontal fold to facilitate publication in the small atlas, and has a repair to the rear of an undiscernable tiny tear at right edge. External measurement is 215 x 182mm (8 1/2 x 7 1/8 inches).