Map, Tallis John, Western Australia Swan River c1851, Original

Date: 1851

Artist and Engraver: J. Rapkin

Illustrations A. H. Wray

Engraver: Lacey

Paper Size: 350 x 270cms

Condition: very good

Technique: steel engraving original hand coloured

Price: $750

Description: 

This is a scarce 1851 example of John Tallis and John Rapkin's 1851 map of Western Australia. It covers southwestern Western Australia from Champion Bay south around Sussex to Doubtful Island Bay. This map records the early settlements of the United Kingdom in the western part of Australia. It notes numerous counties, roadways, rivers, geographical features, and more.

Swan River is identified. The Swan River Colony including Perth was settled by the British in 1829. York, noted here, was the first inland settlement by the British in 1831. Albany with King George Sound, along with its surrounding areas is called Plantagenet, supposedly named so because King George, the reigning British monarch at the time, believed that he was related to the Plantagenet lineage of kings, who ruled many centuries earlier.

This map includes illustrations by A. H. Wray of Sheep Shearing, Aborigines, Perth from Mount Eliza and a view Between Perth and Fremantle. Illustrations of ships and natives is also included. The whole has the highly decorative presentation and elaborate border distinctive of Tallis maps. This map was issued as part of the 1851 edition of John Tallis and Company's The Illustrated Atlas, And Modern History of the World.

Biography 

Tallis and Company published views, maps and Atlases in London from roughly 1838 to 1851. The principal works, expanding upon the earlier works of Cary and Arrowsmith, include an 1838 collection of London Street Views and the 1849 Illustrated Atlas of the World. His principal engraver was John Rapkin, whose name and decorative vignettes appear on most Tallis & Co. maps. Due to the decorative style of Rapkin's work, many regard Tallis maps as the last bastion of English decorative cartography in the 19th century. Though most Tallis maps were originally issued uncolored, it was not uncommon for 19th century libraries to commission colorists to "complete" the atlas. The London Printing and publishing Company of London and New York bought the rights for many Tallis maps in 1850 and continued Publishing his Illustrated Atlas of the World until the mid 1850s. Specific Tallis maps later appeared in innumerable mid to late 19th century publications as illustrations and appendices.

Size W26cm x H36cm

SOURCE

Tallis, J., The Illustrated Atlas, And Modern History Of The World Geographical, Political, Commercial & Statistical, 1851.