1859 Smith Folding Case Map of Italy and Switzerland

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Price: $875.00

Title:    Map of Italy and Switzerland Particularly distinguishing the Different Travelling Roads and the Post Stations; with the number of posts between each Station. Compiled from the most recent Authorities.

Description:    A rare and beautiful case format map of Italy and Switzerland from 1859. Produced by London cartographer Charles Smith. Covers from Geneva in the west as far east as Turkey and Dalmatia, north to Vienna, and south to include Sicily. Also includes Sardinia and Corsica. This map was originally issued by Smith in 1818 as a “New Post Map of Italy and Switzerland”. Smith intended the map for 19th century English travelers to Italy and so gives particular attention to distances, roads, and the quality of those roads. Offers basic but attractive topographic details. Sicily is depicted as an inset map at the bottom center. Dissected and mounted on linen in 24 sheets. Folds into its original cardboard binder.

Date:    1859

References:    Shapero, The Folding World (January, 2003), item 178.

Cartographer:    Charles Smith (1800 - 1852) and Son was a late 19th and early 20th century publisher of atlases, pocket maps and charts of England. They issued several atlases including Smith's New English Atlas (1804, folio), England and Wales (1806), The New General Atlas (1808), and the New Pocket Companion to the Roads of England and Wales (1826). Smith's early work stylistically resembled the work of Pinkerton, Cary, and Thomson, though on a much smaller scale. After Charles Smith's death in 1852 the business was taken over by his son who continued to publish maps will into the 20th century. The younger Smith is best known for his introduction of the "Tape Indicator Map." This map, which came with a tape measure, enabled users to triangulate their location based coordinates given in an attached guide. C. Smith and Son had their office at 172 Strand Street, London. Click here for a list of rare maps from Charles Smith.

Size:   Printed area measures 33.5 x 33 inches (85.09 x 83.82 centimeters)

Condition:    Fine or perfect condition. Dissected and mounted on linen in 24 sheets. Original linen in fine condition. Folds into its original cardboard case. Case in good condition with some minor wear on the edges and title area.

Code:   Italy-smith-1859 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)