1831 Dower / Teesdale Map of Brazil and the Guianas

This is a stunning example of the 1831 John Dower and Henry Teesdale map of Brazil and Guyana published in their A New General Atlas of the World. It depicts the region as it emerged from wars of independence against Spain and Portugal, when both borders and political systems were in flux.

A Closer Look

This map illustrates the Empire of Brazil at its greatest extent, roughly a decade after independence from Portugal, along with the Guianas, including British, French, and Dutch colonies. Lands north of the Amazon that were inland from the coast (Guiana), shown here as part of Brazil, were contested between several powers, and were only definitely recognized as Brazilian territory in the early 20th century.

Aside from cities and political divisions, mountains are also indicated with hachures, while rivers and coastal features (bays, bars, islands) are assiduously noted. In the Amazon, the names of local indigenous groups are also indicated. Scales are provided in both British miles and Portuguese leagues.

The information presented here was a bit out of date, as Uruguay is here included in Brazil as 'Banda Oriental.' In fact, the territory had its independence recognized in the Treaty of Montevideo in August 1828, following twelve years of Brazilian occupation and warfare (neighboring Paraguay would likewise see a protracted independence struggle against Brazil in the 1860s – 1870s).

Independence and Struggle in Brazil

After several attempted revolts, Brazil succeeded in gaining its independence from Portugal in 1822, a movement that, perhaps unexpectedly, was led by the son of the Portuguese King João VI. However, the country's early years saw a string of revolts and wars, as various social groups and newly independent countries jockeyed for power. Brazil's major opponent was the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata, a predecessor to the Republic of Argentina. In this era, much of the country remained sparsely populated despite continued immigration and a significant portion of the economy relied on slavery and plantation agriculture, though modern industries were developed in the second half of the 19th century.

Publication History and Census

This map was engraved by John Dower for the 1831 edition of A New General Atlas of the World, published by Henry Teesdale. This appears to be an especially rare presentation of this map, as most examples from this or other editions of A New General Atlas do not show such vivid and full hand-coloring, only the outlines of territories. The 1831 edition of this map is only independently cataloged in the holdings of four institutions, while the entire atlas is held by roughly a dozen institutions, though as stated above the present map may be distinct from those examples in coloration.