A. Australia, by W. and A.K. Johnston, from National Atlas, circa 1844 (23.8 x 19.5"). This crisp map of the continent shows development primarily confined to the southeastern coast including Sydney and Melbourne. Victoria is still labeled Australia Felix. The interior is almost entirely blank with a large section marked "unexplored." Dates of discovery are noted along the coastline and cover a span of nearly 200 years (1618-1802). Condition: A clean, crisp impression with faint toning along the centerfold and sheet edges. (A)

B. Australia in 1839, by SDUK Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, dated 1840 (15.5 x 12.8"). Crisply engraved map with terrific coastal detail and a virtually blank interior. Major discoveries of Cook, Tasman and Flinders are identified. Each colony is named and notes the date of establishment, but none have their boundaries delineated save the "Colony of South Australia." Locates the small towns of Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, and Hobart on Tasmania, here Van Diemen Land. The only settlement in the vicinity of today's Melbourne is Cowie on the west side of Port Phillip near today's Geelong. Notation at Port Stephens: "Australian Agricultural Company, Chartered 1824." The population of the whole region is noted as 141,000. A simple, but elegant map with a keyboard style border. Condition: Light toning and minor scattered foxing. (B+)

References: Tooley (Australia) #755.

Condition:

See description above.