"AFRICA"
Drawn & engraved by John Rapkin for "The Illustrated Atlas and Modern History of the World" by Martin Montgomery.
An attractive and decorative map from the RARE First Edition map with vignette engravings of ARAB FAMILY OF ALGERIA - REDOUIN ARABS ENCAMPMENT - BOSJESMAN HOTTENTOTS - ST HELENA - KORANNA HOTTENTOTS.
This example with superb full early hand colouring of the decorative border and all of the vignettes
Original outline hand colouring. An excellent example of the preferred Montgomery Martin edition.
As this example is from the 1st edition, it is not folded and in excellent overall condition. Approx 360mm x 280mm and printed on heavy grade paper. Will look outstanding once mounted and framed.
John Tallis is considered to be one of the most renowned cartographers and publisher of the C19th .
His maps are considered to be the last of the lavishly decorated and ornamental maps, works of art as much of geography.
- He was born in Stourbridge in Worcestershire in about 1818 and it is possible he stayed working in the Midlands working as a publisher in Birmingham, until he moved to London in the early 1840’s.John then set up the first of his publishing businesses, in Cripplegate, with Frederick Tallis, who was quite possibly his brother. This business lasted from 1842 to 1849 when it was dissolved. By 1846 the business had moved to Smithfield.From 1851 – 54, John set up another business, operating as John Tallis and Company and it was during this period that he produced the Illustrated World Atlas, produced for the 1851 Great Exhibition
The intriguing thing is, that at some point, John Tallis made the acquaintance of an engraver called John Rapkin who was an inspiration to Tallis. His stunning illustrations enabled the maps they produced to be beautiful illuminitive works of art.
John Rapkin’s work inspired John Tallis and they used travelogues extensively to guide Joh Rapkin as he produced vignettes and ornamental engravings to embellish the Tallis maps.