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. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland (12.8 x 9.9"). A lovely engraved map of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, including parts of New Brunswick and Labrador. The map includes vignettes of Halifax, steam and sailing ships in the Cod Fishery off Newfoundland, the seals of both provinces, and a pair of dogs with barrels and an anchor. The decorative border features ice and fish caught on fishing lines. Map drawn and engraved by J. Rapkin, illustrations drawn by A. Fussell and engraved by J. Rogers.

B. East Canada, and New Brunswick (13.1 x 10.1"). Lovely nineteenth century map of the St. Lawrence River and New Brunswick. It locates Montreal and Quebec with a beautiful vignette of Quebec as seen from the river. The view of Quebec contains numerous sailing ships and boats in the foreground with the cliffs and settlement visible in the background. A second vignette shows a group of North American Indians in ceremonial dress with weapons. Further embellished with a bison and a decorative border. Vignettes drawn by H. Warren and engraved by J.B. Allen. J. Rapkin created and engraved the map.

References:

Condition: A

Both maps feature contemporary outline color with later color in the decorative elements. The Nova Scotia map has tiny binding holes and small chips along its bottom edge with a short archivally repaired edge tear that just enters the map image at bottom. The East Canada map has some minor soiling along the sheet edges.