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1818 Wallis Game Map of the World and the Wonders of Nature
WondersNatureGame-wallis-1818$1,000.00
Title
Wallis's Elegant and Instructive Game exhibiting the Wonders of Nature in Each Quarter of the World.
1818 (dated) 18.625 x 24.375 in (47.3075 x 61.9125 cm)
1818 (dated) 18.625 x 24.375 in (47.3075 x 61.9125 cm)
Description
This is an 1818 Edward Wallis game map of the world highlighting the 'Wonders of Nature'. Twenty-six spaces spiral around the title in a classic 'jeu de l'oie' or 'game of the goose' model. A 'wonders of nature' occupies each space. Among these are Mount Etna (1), an earthquake (3), the Cave of Antiparos (14), Niagara Falls (20), and the Lofoten Maelstrom (24).
The Jeux de l'Oie
The jeux de l'oie or game of the goose, originated in Italy during the late 16th century. The game follows a traditional spiral form with most games consisting of sixty-three squares (although there are exceptions). Players progress along the spiral to the center of the board. Along the way, players encounter hazards, bonuses, and penalties. As explained by game historian Adrian SevilleEach game goes beyond simple cartographic representation to convey, through its rules or iconography, a deliberate 'message' whether political, commercial, or cultural. The games give insights into international relationships, perceptions, and misconceptions at various points in the history of Europe. (Seville, A., The geographical Jeux de l'Oie of Europe, BELGEO, 2008, 3-4)
Publication History and Census
This game was created and published by Edward Wallis in 1818. We note fourteen examples cataloged in OCLC, including holdings at Columbia University, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, the Huntington Library, and the University of Cambridge.Cartographer
Edward Wallis (c. 1787 - 1868) was a British publisher, mapmaker, and game manufacturer. The son of publisher John Wallis (1745 - 1818), Wallis joined his father's business in 1813, operating as Wallis and Son or John and Edward Wallis. Wallis and his brother John divided their father's business after his death in 1818. Edward continued creating, publishing, and selling maps, games, and other printed material until he retired in 1847 when he sold his business to John Passmore. His brother John Wallis Jr. only worked in the publishing trade in a separate business for a few years before moving to Sidmouth, where he opened a circulating library and reading room called the Marine Library. He also published lithographs and aquatints. More by this mapmaker...
Condition
Very good. Dissected and mounted on linen in twelve (12) panels.
References
OCLC 15730862, 987375384, 670497292, 1252109781.