British Possessions in the Mediterranean. John Tallis map c1853.

by London Printing & Publishing Company

Antique Print Club Tallis map of British Possessions c1853. Finely engraved vignettes of Corfu, Gibraltar, Valetta, Malta; Vathi, Ithaca; and fishing vessels. Coloured pen outlining islands and pale blue wash to coastlines are contemporary (as published) by John Tallis and Company c1853.

In 1853 a partnership between John Tallis and Ephraim Tipton Brain, formed the London Printing and Publishing Company. John Tallis was the driving force behind the Tallis publishing company, but John Rapkin was largely responsible for Tallis's reputation as publishers of accurate, finely engraved decorative maps. Tallis maps are easily recognized by their steel engraved vignettes of important subjects in the region, and elegantly drawn and engraved borders. Specialist map illustrators drew the illustrations, and then engraved a steel plate, in reverse from a mirror image. The illustrations for this map were drawn and engraved by Henry Winkles. The fine engraving required skill and time. Unfortunately it was also expensive. In 1865 Tallis was among the last of the publishers of beautifully decorated maps and prints.

This historic map is in fine condition with slight age-toning of page extremities (as is to be expected from time). There is a central horizontal fold to accommodate a publication half its size. Similarly for publication, the upper edge was trimmed to the upper edge of the cartouche and the lower edge was trimmed across the publisher name.
Page size, 357 x 270 mm (14 1/8 x 10 5/8 inches).