Mercator’s Projection designed by Edward Weller for G. W. Bacon.

Early separately issued folding map of the World on Mercator’s Projection for G. W. Bacon and designed by Edward Weller.

This attractive early map of the world is based on the work of Edward Weller and was an early entrant into Bacon’s stock portfolio.

Geographically, the map is simplified, with no political boundaries with the exception of different colours used for the continents. There is little evidence to date it with the exception of the presence of Lake Victoria in Africa but its companion, Lake Albert, although marked, is shown with dotted lines around the shore, suggesting the Samuel Baker White’s exploration had not been fully communicated as yet. Simultaneously, there is a reference to Mount Everest as the highest peak in Asia (and the world) on the lower right corner. Peak XV as it was known to the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India was named Everest in 1865. There is a flag on the upper border corresponding to a United Germany and this process began in 1866 and finished in 1871. Thus the date the geographic date of the map is about 1866. However, Bacon’s imprint on the lower central margin, place him at 127 Strand, London, an address he did not begin to use until 1870, suggesting that this could be a slightly later printing of the map.

The upper borders is decorated with flags. Infographic images of the great rivers and mountains of the eastern and western hemispheres are present on the lower left and right corners with the Nile showing its new distance, although at this point though still placed as the second longest river in the world, ceding first place to the Mississippi-Missouri. A large vignette in the lower centre focuses on the principal waterfalls of the world. Various tables of statistical information such as distances and population number are present on the side and lower borders.

This map must have been a success as the Bacon firm produced a much larger and grander map on the same format in the early 20th century which had many of the same design features, including the flags and panels of statistics.

This earlier version seems to be much scarcer. Original colour. [WLD4788]