This scarce atlas was published during the Australian gold rush of the 1850s. While gold had been found in Australia as early as the 1820s, the colonial government suppressed this information in order to stabilize the young economy. However, with the California Gold Rush of 1848 drawing Australians to America, the government reconsidered its position and the flow of this valuable information began in 1851. The atlas is complete with 6 maps, including four displaying the gold regions in yellow. The maps include:

Australasia
Australia
Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia
New South Wales
Victoria
New Zealand

All maps are double-page except for the map of Australia, which is a large foldout. Rebacked with original green cloth boards and gilt title on the front cover.

References:

Condition: B

The maps are good to very good with minor foxing and a light dampstain at bottom that is more prominent in the blank margins. The folding map of Australia has short fold separations at center that have been closed on verso with archival tape. Rebacked with original boards, which are worn with bumped edges.