Western Hemisphere with contemporary colour c1853. John Tallis

by John Tallis & Company

Antique map of Western Hemisphere, as published by John Tallis & Company c1853, with contemporary pen and wash colour. Undoubtedly this is the most intricate Western Hemisphere map ever to have been engraved and published. This steel-engraved map was drawn and engraved by J. Rapkin, with illustrations drawn by H. Warren engraved by J. Rogers, for John Tallis and Company.

The pen outlining of the countries and pale blue wash highlighting coastlines was done at the time of publication. Tallis maps were noted for their embellishment by finely engravaed decorative borders and vignettes (small views) depicting notable features within the region shown.This Western Hemisphere map is completely surrounded by people and animals that are separated and further adorned by the intertwining of vines, as if being viewed through windows.

John Tallis was the driving force behind Tallis publications but John Rapkin was greatly responsible for the company's high reputation for publishing accurate, finely illustrated books and atlases, illustrated with the Tallis distinctive style of steel engravings. Tallis maps were among the last decorative maps published, as this skilled labour-intensive work added to production time and cost.

This map has slight age-soiling, but is in good condition otherwise, with relatively wide margins and vertical centre fold (to enable inclusion in a publication half the size of the map). Page size is 270 x 350mm (approximately 10 5/8 x 13 3/4 inches).