World Maps: Animal Kingdom, Productive Industry, Commercial Navigation. Colton, c1855.

by Colton, Joseph Hutchins

Pair of antique maps within decorative intricate border. The upper Map of the World Showing the Geographical Distribution & Range of the Principal Members of the Animal Kingdom. The lower Map of the World illustrating the Productive Industry of Various Countries, & exhibiting the principal features of Commercial Navigation. Both of these maps have considerable additional interesting text information.

Original steel-engraved map with contemporary hand colour, engraved according to the Act of Congress in the Year 1855 by Joseph Hutchins Colton in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

Joseph Hutchins Colton was the first of a generation of well-known map publishers, and one of the earliest map producing houses in New York. Colton began publishing maps in the 1830s after purchasing the map plates of David H. Burr. He updated and modified the plates to reflect political changes and new discoveries. In the early 1850s Joseph’s sons George Woolworth Colton and Charles B. Colton headed the family firm. It was George who drew the maps for their “Atlas of the World” published in 1855. The up-to-date content of the maps, and the decorative borders around each that became a signature of Colton presentation, assisted in establishing the Colton firm as the pre-eminent American cartographers of the day. In 1859 Colton sold the plates to this atlas to A.J. Johnson who, with a series of partners, continued to produce maps in the Colton style until the late 19th century.

This map has wide margins, as issued, with a few small nicks out of the extremity and slight age-soiling as is to be expected. Page: 455 x 375 (17.75 x 14.75 inches). To external edge of border: 395 x 275mm (approx. 15.5 x 11.75 inches).