1876 Meaulle Pictorial Map of the World

This is an 1876 Scott and Vierge pictorial map of the world. Projected as a view from space, the map depicts the world roughly from the Equator to the North Pole and from California to India. The idea is to, essentially, illustrate the late 19th century work in a single 'blink-of-the-eye' glance that encompasses geography, cultural diversity, scientific achievement, and various archeological 'wonders.' Pictorial vignettes dot the globe and highlight covered wagons and the Union Pacific Railroad in the U.S., Mayan and Aztec ruins in Mexico, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, and the Winged Bull of Nineveh in Iran. Transatlantic trade lines between New York and France are marked and the nations of the world are labeled and marked by their respective flags. The routes of Arctic explorers are noted as well, with a large notation of 'Mer Libre?' just above Greenland, which likely refers to the continued hope of finding a Northwest Passage. Views are included all around the world and highlight natural wonders (Niagara Falls, avalanches), fauna (bison), and people (American Indians, Touaregs). Seventy-nine illustrations of people from all over the world in their traditional dress are situated along the bottom border.

Publication History and Census

Two editions of this piece were published, both of which were created by Mr. Scott and Daniel Vierge and by Fortuné Louis Méaulle. The first edition, entitled 'Le Tour du Monde en un Clin D'oeil', was published in the January 1, 1876 edition of the newspaper Monde Illustré while the current example was published in the January 22, 1876 edition of The Daily Graphic. Only one example of the present map is recorded in the OCLC and it is part of the collection at Columbia University.