1863
A fine large original antique map titled
"SOUTH AMERICA"
Engraved by Edward Weller and published for 'The Dispatch Atlas' at the Weekly Dispatch Office, Fleet Street, London. Outline original hand colour. Measuring approx 66cm x 48cm with central fold as issued.
Edward Weller (1819-1884) was a London based engraver, cartographer and publisher working from offices in Red lion Square and later in Bloomsbury. Amongst his considerable portfolio were various atlases, many of which focused on the educational publishing market. Having established his credentials as an engraver of finely detailed works, he sold maps to be published in a number of regular magazines and pamphlets, perhaps the best known being "The Dispatch Atlas"; a compilation of maps Weller had already published in "The Weekly Dispatch". Although Weller usually engraved the maps himself, he did work in partnership with others, notibly John Dower for this Atlas. Weller also published "The Crown Atlas" in 1871,
"The Dispatch Atlas" featured well over 100 superbly detailed steel plate engraved maps, usually with simplistic, single colour outline hand colouring and a distinctive header style. Most English counties featured, some of which were divided onto separate sheets, affording space to engrave in greater detail. The maps of North and South Devonshire for example include such details as individual property names, as do those of Norther and Southern parts of Hampshire.
After Weller's death in 1884, many of these highly detailed plates were sold onto other map makers, include George Bacon, who whist retaining the level of details, expanded the printing area of each plate, adding more precise and varied hand colouring in keeping with the final decades of the century.
