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.

A great map of the eastern states and some very interestingly shaped western territories up to about the Rocky Mountains. The new state of Texas is shown with the panhandle extending to the Arkansas River and including Santa Fe and Taos. Wisconsin and Iowa are shown with amorphous boundaries and the Indian Territory is not named. Precisely engraved to show a surprising amount of detail for a map of this size. Surrounded by a decorative border that incorporates portraits of Washington and Franklin in circular elements. Also with vignettes showing the Capitol, a buffalo hunt, Penn's treaty with the Indians, and Washington's Monument which includes a statue at the top that was planned, but never installed. Further embellished by the Excelsior seals and the U.S. shield.

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Condition: B+

Original outline color with light toning and faint color offsetting. There is a tiny edge tear confined to the top blank margin that is closed on verso with archival tape.