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1817 Thomson Map of Peru, Chile and Argentina
PeruChili-thomson-1817$225.00
Title
Peru, Chili and La Plata.
1817 (undated) 25.5 x 20.5 in (64.77 x 52.07 cm) 1 : 7500000
1817 (undated) 25.5 x 20.5 in (64.77 x 52.07 cm) 1 : 7500000
Description
This is a beautiful 1817 Thomson map of Peru, Chile and Argentina. It covers Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and parts of Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. The map identifies towns, rivers, mountains, indigenous groups, and other political and physical features. Names important mountains in the Andes, including Aconcagua, the largest mountain in South America.
In 1821, Peru was proclaimed independent. Antonio Jose de Sucre, a Venezuelan independence leader and one of Simon Bolivar's closest friends, was given an option of either unite with the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, stay under the newly formed Republic of Peru, or create and new nation. He chose the latter. Chile, during this time, was undergoing political upheaval and headed for civil war. After the last of the Spanish troops surrendered in 1826 and after the failure of the federalist system in 1828, Chile adopted a moderately liberal constitution. This in turn alienated both the liberal and federalist factions and would ultimately lead to the revolution in 1829 followed by 30 years of conservative governments.
This map was prepared by John Thomson for inclusion in the 1817 edition of Thomson's New General Atlas.
In 1821, Peru was proclaimed independent. Antonio Jose de Sucre, a Venezuelan independence leader and one of Simon Bolivar's closest friends, was given an option of either unite with the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, stay under the newly formed Republic of Peru, or create and new nation. He chose the latter. Chile, during this time, was undergoing political upheaval and headed for civil war. After the last of the Spanish troops surrendered in 1826 and after the failure of the federalist system in 1828, Chile adopted a moderately liberal constitution. This in turn alienated both the liberal and federalist factions and would ultimately lead to the revolution in 1829 followed by 30 years of conservative governments.
This map was prepared by John Thomson for inclusion in the 1817 edition of Thomson's New General Atlas.
Cartographer
John Thomson (1777 - c. 1841) was a Scottish cartographer, publisher, and bookbinder active in Edinburgh during the early part of the 19th century. Thomson apprenticed under Edinburgh bookbinder Robert Alison. After his apprenticeship he briefly went into business with Abraham Thomson. Later the two parted ways, John Thomson segueing into maps and Abraham Thomson taking over the bookbinding portion of the business. Thomson is generally one of the leading publishers in the Edinburgh school of cartography which flourished from roughly 1800 to 1830. Thomson and his contemporaries (Pinkerton and Cary) redefined European cartography by abandoning typical 18th century decorative elements such as elaborate title cartouches and fantastic beasts in favor of detail and accuracy. Thomson's principle works include Thomson's New General Atlas, published from 1814 to 1821, the New Classical and Historical Atlas of 1829, and his 1830 Atlas of Scotland. The Atlas of Scotland, a work of groundbreaking detail and dedication would eventually bankrupt the Thomson firm in 1830, at which time their plates were sequestered by the court. The firm partially recovered in the subsequent year allowing Thomson to reclaim his printing plates in 1831, but filed again for bankruptcy in 1835, at which time most of his printing plates were sold to A. K. Johnston and Company. There is some suggestion that he continued to work as a bookbinder until 1841. Today, Thomson maps are becoming increasingly rare as they are highly admired for their impressive size, vivid hand coloration, and superb detail. More by this mapmaker...
Source
Thomson, J., A New General Atlas, (Edinburgh) 1817.
Thomson's New General Atlas was first published in 1817 and continued to be published until about 1821. This is the first of Thomson's major cartographic works and the atlas for which is most celebrated. The New General Atlas follows in the Edinburgh School, which eschews excessive decoration in favor of a more minimalistic fact-based cartographic vision, as established by John Pinkerton, Laurie and Whittle, John Cary, and others in the previous decades. The maps are notable for their massive scale, heavy stock, elegant color work, and easy-to-read typefaces. Although the atlas stopped being published after 1821, Thomson continued to offer 'supplementary' maps that could be tipped into the atlas as late as 1830, when he declared bankruptcy. The maps in the Thomson Atlas were engraved by Thomas Clerk, William Dassauville, Nathaniel Rogers Hewitt, James Kirkwood, Robert Kirkwood, John Menzies, George Menzies, Edward Mitchell, John Moffatt, Samuel John Neele, Robert Scott, and James Wyld.
Condition
Very good. Minor wear along original centerfold. Original platemark visible. Overall toning and foxing at places.
References
Rumsey 1007.077.