1851 Black Map of East Indies and Southeast Asia

This is a fine example of Adam and Charles Black's 1851 map of the east Indies, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines. Includes modern day nations of Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and parts of China. During this time in history, Burma was under British rule, while much of modern day Indonesia including Sumatra and parts of Borneo were part of the Dutch colony of the Dutch east Indies. The French dominated Indochina, including Cambodia and Vietnam and most of the modern day Philippines were a Spanish territory called Spanish east Indies. Only Thailand (Siam) and China retained national sovereignty. Various cities, towns, rivers, mountains, islands and several other topographical details are noted with relief shown in hachures. This map was engraved by Sidney Hall and issued as plate no. XL in the 1851 edition of Black's General Atlas of the World.

Cartographers

Charles and Adam Black (fl. 1807 - present) were map and book publishers based in Edinburgh. Charles and his uncle, Adam, both of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded their publishing firm in 1807. They published a series of maps and atlases throughout the 19th century. In addition to an array of atlases, the Black firm is known for their editions of the Encyclopedia Britannica (1817 - 1826) and the first publishing of Sir Walter Scott's novels in 1854. In 1889 the A. & C. Black publishing house moved to London where it remains in operation to this day.   Further Details...

Sidney Hall (1788 - 1831) was an English engraver and map publisher active in London during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His earliest imprints, dating to about 1814, suggest a partnership with Michael Thomson, another prominent English map engraver. Hall engraved for most of the prominent London map publishers of his day, including Aaron Arrowsmith, William Faden, William Harwood, and John Thomson, among others. Hall is credited as being one of the earliest adopters of steel plate engraving, a technique that allowed for finer detail and larger print runs due to the exceptional hardness of the medium. Upon his early death - he was only in his 40s - Hall's business was inherited by his wife, Selina Hall, who continued to publish under the imprint, "S. Hall", presumably for continuity. The business eventually passed to Sidney and Selina's nephew Edward Weller, who became extremely prominent in his own right.   Further Details...

Source

Black, A. and C., General Atlas Of The World, (Edinburgh) 1851.    

Condition

Very good. Minor overall toning. Blank on verso.

References

Rumsey 2305.046 (1854 edition). Philips (atlases) 4334.