John Arrowsmith
65 x 88 cm
Source map of Australia in its separately issued, joined, segmented and backed on linen format.
Arrowsmith’s
important map of Australia made its first appearance in the expanded edition of
his “London Atlas” in 1838 and then became a staple of this work until around
1858 although the last recorded edition of the map was in 1862. However,
Arrowsmith’s maps are notoriously difficult to collate as many of his works
were bespoke.
Despite
these difficulties, much scholarship has been done around this map and it is
acknowledged to be the finest large scale map of the continent of its age as
well as offering an unrivalled sequence of the development, exploration and history
Australia.
It is
available in two different formats. The atlas format is two sheets (east and
west) which shows a substantial overlap in the centre, although Arrowsmith
helpfully provides a “joining line”. The other format is the map already joined
and sometimes segmented and backed on linen.
This
particular example is joined, segmented and backed on linen. It is in particularly
bright original colour. It is the 1842 edition with various discoveries
communicated to London as late as 1841.
Arrowsmith’s
map is a cornerstone for any collection of Australian maps or historical
documents.
Original
colour. Sold with its original case. [AUNZ2937]