Naples & Sicily Drawn from the Best Authorities. Italy c1794

by Wilkinson, Robert

A beautiful, finely detailed antique map of southern Italy and Sicily, c1794.

Original copperplate-engraved map by Thomas Conder, with fine contemporary hand-colour (from the time of publication). Published in London circa 1794 for Robert Wilkinson's "The General Atlas of the World". Most of Wilkinson's maps were updates of the plates that previously belonged to English map publisher John Bowles. (Wilkinson acquired his library of engraved copperplates after Bowles died in 1779.) R. Wilkinson flourished as a map maker and atlas publisher between 1768 and 1825, and his popular atlas was reissued in 1802, 1809, and later until his death in 1825. His publishing house was at No.58, Cornhill, London from 1792 to 1816, and then at 125 Fenchurch Street, London until 1823.

As with much early colour, the paint has oxidized and shows through to the rear side of the map. The paper is slightly discoloured, as is to be expected considering its age. It has wide borders as published. Approximate page size: 340 x 265mm (13.5 x 10.5 inches); to intaglio plate mark: 325 x 295mm (12.75 x 11.5 inches).