1851 Wyld Map of London, England

A decorative 1851 first edition plan or map of London, England by James Wyld. It was published to be of use to visitors to London's 1851 Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, also known as the Crystal Palace Exhibition.

A Closer Look

Centered on Blackfriars Bridge, the map covers central London from Islington to North Brixton and from the East India Docks to Holland Park. Roads, parks, rail lines, important buildings, and neighborhoods are noted. To the left and right of center, the English language title is repeated in French and German, respectively. Appropriately, the Crystal Palace appears prominently along the southern border of Hyde Park.

This map is notable for its decorative border, with floral corner flourishes and illustrations of London landmarks, including, among others, Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, the Bank of England, London Bridge, and the Houses of Parliament.

Wyld's Globe

Among the border vignettes, in a place of prominence just to the right of the title, can be found a self-promotional view entitled, 'Mr. Wyld's Model of the Earth in Leicester Square.' This is Wyld's Great Globe, an attraction built in 1851, the year this map was issued, in Leicester Square, which was then a private pleasure garden. It consisted of a specially constructed dome containing a great sphere approximately 19 meters in diameter. On the interior walls of the sphere was a plaster of Paris scale model of the Earth. Scaffolding was erected at multiple levels so viewers could examine various locations in greater detail. The globe was a great success throughout its first year, but in subsequent years interest declined. It was ultimately deconstructed and sold for scrap in 1862. It was not until the 1935 construction of the Mapparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston that a larger globe was constructed.

The 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition

The 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition, officially titled the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations, was a landmark event held in London's Hyde Park. It was organized by Prince Albert (1819 - 1861) and Sir Henry Cole (1808 - 1882), who envisaged an international platform to showcase the innovations, arts, and technological prowess of the era. That venue, the Crystal Palace, was an architectural marvel in itself - an expansive iron and glass edifice designed by Sir Joseph Paxton (1803 - 1865), symbolizing the union of art, design, and engineering. Exhibitors flocked to this event, displaying a diverse array of products ranging from machinery to exotic artifacts, revealing the vast expanse of 19th-century human achievement. Drawing over 6,000,000 visitors, including dignitaries, intellectuals, and curious citizens, the exhibition was not merely a commercial or technological display; it was a cultural spectacle that emphasized Britain's central role in the Industrial Revolution. Moreover, the legacy of the Great Exhibition extended beyond its temporal confines, influencing design principles, shaping international trade and diplomacy, and inspiring subsequent world's fairs and expositions.

Publication History and Census

The map was printed in 40 sections that were clearly designed to be dissected and mounted on linen, which apparently never occurred with this example. The present example is the first edition, first state. 15 additional editions followed with numerous updates and revisions to about 1877.