1850 "United States" by John Tallis

This is an 1850 map of the United States by John Tallis, published as part of his “The Illustrated Atlas.” The map was drawn and engraved by J. Rapkin, with the illustrations drawn by J. Marchant and engraved by J. Rogers. 

This map features some interesting state and territory boundaries, as expected from this very transitional period of American history. The large “Western Territory” lies above a shortened Texas and stretches between New Mexico and the western boundaries of Missouri and Arkansas. New Mexico lies east of the Rio Grande, with Mexico to the west. A huge Missouri Territory occupies much of the Great Plains region, as it extends from an oddly shaped Nebraska and off the map to the west. Nebraska stretches from the Canadian border to the Western Territory as a thin strip of land lying against Minnesota and Iowa to the east. 

This beautifully engraved map is surrounded by a decorative border with portraits of Washington and Franklin. Vignettes of a buffalo hunt, Penn's treaty with the Indians, Washington's Monument in Baltimore, and two U.S. seals further adorn the map. 

The maps from Tallis’ “The Illustrated Atlas” were first published in serial form, to a target audience that otherwise would not have known about these areas, due to the expense of travel. 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. 

Tallis' maps not only provided up-to-date geographical knowledge, but also used vignette views within the map's design to show the history and points of interest of each location. The maps hark back to a cartographic tradition from the Dutch mapmakers of the seventeenth century with finely engraved decorative borders. The Tallis maps were drawn and engraved by John Rapkin, with views drawn and engraved by a number of prominent artists. 

CONDITION:

Very good condition. Hand-colored, engraved map. Paper is clean and healthy, with only light toning. Colors are vibrant. Map Dimension: 9 ½” H x 13.3” W. 

Framed according to archival standards in a custom-built wooden frame with acid-free mats and UV Conservation clear glass. 

Framed Dimensions: 19 1/2 H x  22 W x 1 1/2 D