1850 Tallis Map of South America

This is John Tallis's extremely attractive c. 1850 Map of South America. Depicts the continent divided into political zones and surrounded by attractive decorative vignettes. Peru is shown divided into North Peru and South Peru. Ecuador, Venezuela, and Columbia are united as Grand Columbia. Modern day Argentina is divided into La Plata, Entre Rios, and Patagonia. Chili extends southward only to the border of Patagonia. Bolivia has a coast. Vignettes include, from the top left in a counterclockwise fashion, a scene from Peru with a Condor and a Lama, a view of harbor of Valparaiso, a sketch of indigenous peoples descending from the Cordilleras, an image of the natives of Chili, an image of indigenous peoples carrying a large barrel, a view of Rio de Janeiro, a drawing of a Brazilian rope bridge, and a view of Gold Washing in Brazil. The whole is surrounded by an attractive decorative border with a floral motif. Prepared by J. Marchant, J. Rogers, and J. Rapkin for issued in John Tallis' 1851 Illustrated Atlas…

Cartographer

John Tallis (November 7, 1817 - June 3, 1876) was an English map publisher and bookseller. Born in Stourbridge, Worcestershire, he worked in his father's Birmingham agency from 1836 to 1842. Around 1838, Tallis published a collection of London Street Views and entered into a partnership with his brother Frederick Tallis from 1842 to 1849. Tallis and Company also published the Illustrated Atlas of the World (1849). Also in 1849, Tallis traveled to New York City, where he established agencies in 6 American cities. After returning from New York, Tallis paid his brother £10,000 for his share of the business and subsequently operated as John Tallis and Company until 1854. By 1853, John Tallis and Company had agencies in 26 cities in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada and employed over 500 people. On February 24, 1854, Tallis brought on a new partner, Ephraim Tipton Brain (1791 - 1876), forming the London Printing and Publishing Company. After a series of setbacks, however, Tallis had to sell his estate and by 1861 was declared bankrupt. Friends and former employees kept him afloat, but none of his 'various ambitious projects' proved lucrative. Tallis married Jane Ball on December 6, 1836, in Birmingham, and they lived together until she died in 1862. Tallis remarried on June 27, 1863, to Mary Stephens, with whom he had two children.   Further Details...

Source

The Illustrated Atlas, And Modern History Of The World Geographical, Political, Commercial & Statistical, Edited By R. Montgomery Martin, Esq. …, (1851 edition)    

Condition

Very good. Some wear and toning along original centerfold. Blank on verso.

References

Rumsey, 0466.066. Phillips (Atlases) 804-66.