The maps from The Illustrated Atlas were first published in serial form to a target audience that led insular lives due to the expense and hardship of travel. All that changed as the progress of the nineteenth century brought swift and dramatic changes in public awareness of far away places. Tallis' maps no doubt played an important role in this dramatic awakening. These maps not only provided up-to-date geographical knowledge, but also used vignette views within the map's design to show the native people and their occupations, cities and points of interest. The maps hark back to a cartographic tradition from the Dutch mapmakers of the seventeenth century with finely engraved decorative borders. The maps were drawn and engraved by John Rapkin with views drawn and engraved by a number of prominent artists. The maps were issued as a complete volume from 1851 until about 1865. Some of the maps were also published in other history books published by Tallis including British Colonies and, without the vignettes, in geographical dictionaries and encyclopedias until about 1880.

This decorative steel-engraved map features five lovely vignettes and fancy borders. The map depicts the actual state of knowledge of the African continent and leaves many regions blank. The well-rendered vignettes include an Arab Family of Algeria, Bedouin Arabs Encampment, Korranna Hottentots, Bosjesman Hottentots and St. Helena. The borders and vignettes are in original uncolored state.

References:

Condition: A

Original outline color.