Maps

The Life of Gerard Mercator – Set of Six Trade Cards – Liebig

A group of six brightly coloured trade cards by Liebig advertising their tasty products. Produced circa Mid 20thC and in very good condition. Comprehensive text in French on reverse.

Delightful chromolithographs depicting various phases in Gerard Mercator’s life.

Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) a German-Flemish geographer studied at the University of Leuven. He appears in the matriculation records of 1530 … they still exist! In 1569 he created the principles that we now call the Mercator projection, fundamental to voyagers from that day forward. He produced a magnificent Atlas based on his projection technique and made many fine globes sold to Royalty and gentry all over Europe. Unfortunately, as were the time even though a devout Catholic he was accused of heresy and spent six months in prison. Each of these elements of his life is nicely displayed in this scarce card set.

Mercator … his projection is everlasting

$60.00

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A View of the Island of St Helena – Allain Mallet -1683

An original copper engraved view of the island of St Helena in the Southern Atlantic by Mallet published in Paris in 1683 as part of his great work on the Universe.

Allain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV and became a Sergeant Major and an Inspector of Fortifications. He at one time acted as a mercenary for the Portuguese. His work contains unique imagery. The map of St Helena supports that view in that he portrays the island in perspective as if viewed from the ocean. The rugged landscape emphasised and the Governors House not far from the solitary landing place. The cannon firing fully rigged ships emphasise a time of turmoil and hostility. Not long earlier in 1673 the Dutch had taken the island before British re-enforcements restored control.

It is thought that St Helena was discovered by the Portuguese circa 1503 but they never exploited the island. Sir Francis Drake likely called in during his circumnavigation in 1580. It was the Dutch who formally first made claim on the island in 1633 but they soon abandoned it in favour of the Cape of Good Hope. Oliver Cromwell granted the English East India Company the right to govern St Helena in 1658. In 1815 the island was selected to be the second place of detention of Napoleon Bonaparte [having previously escaped from Elba]. Napoleon died there in 1821. Britain applied Crown rule of the island from 1834.

Price $90.00 unframed. $190 framed … includes postage subsidy.

Cannon’s blazing off St Helena – Mallet

$90.00

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Report to The Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of the Territory of New Guinea from 1st July 1930 to 30th June 1931.

A very good, near fine copy of the annual report on all things New Guinea. The Council of the League of Nations was the first inter-Governmental organisation formed to maintain world peace. It was established after WWI, the consequences of which saw the administration of New Guinea pass from German to Australian hands.

Foolscap, stapled, 130 pages plus large folding coloured map at rear. Printed in Canberra by L.F. Johnston for the Commonwealth Government.

We are always taken aback by the depth and detail of these reports. The key items of interest, we believe, are … the report on the state of gold mining and associated aviation activities … Edie’s Creek was just starting to produce; the District Patrols; the lengthy report from Sir Hubert Murray on his mammoth tour covering 4,440 miles in the steam yacht Franklin … and the super coloured map 72cm by 34cm.

Complete New Guinea report during the gold discovery era, special tour by Hubert Murray and fine map of “influence”.

$120.00

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Madagascar – I.S. Lauretij Published by Cornelis Claesz, Petrus Bertius, Barent Langenes, – engraved by Benjamin Wright – c1600

A very rare and early state of this classic miniature map of the island of Madagascar. Plates engraved by Benjamin Wright are scarce and it is particularly interesting to see his engraved signature to the bottom left, inside the map area. Printed map area 12.5cm by 8.8cm, strong black image, very good condition, some mild age marks in the margin, printed area clean. Latin text on reverse. Uncoloured as it should be. Text in Latin on reverse.

Madagascar here called I. S Laurentij .. Island of Saint Lawrence, and early European naming. The orientation of the map is with East to the top. Very finely engraved with super topographical detail and. The numerous offshore islands and reefs clearly displayed.

Wright originally worked in London and then found employment on the continent. While in Amsterdam he worked for Cornelis Claesz on new plates for Caert-thresoor effectively a joint venture with Middleburg printer Barent Langenes; Java, Madagascar (this one), St Helena and Sumatra. The first printing was in 1598. The text was edited by Petrus Bertius and Jacobus Viverius.

Accepted authority on Miniature Antique Maps, Geoffrey King writes about this history. His text on the subject cross refers several pages and in its entirety is confusing and possibly contradictory. Our conclusion is to reference this important map as Wright/ Claesz/ Langenes/ Bertius c1600.

Price $160.00 unframed

Early map of Madagascar – Benjamin Wright signature in plate.

$160.00

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Map of Northumberland – John Speed / Pieter van den Keere – 1627

A delightful and quite rare map of Northumberland … the origin of Voyager.

Pieter van den Keere (1571-1646) engraved a series of miniature English County maps based on the original surveys of Christopher Saxton. First published by Willem Janzoon Blaeu in 1617 they were Anglicised by the great cartographer John Speed and published by George Humble in 1627. They are often referred to as “Miniature Speeds”.

Printed area 12.3cm by 8.6cm good plate mark. This example has a shallow lower margin and a little age … altogether still a very good example of a rare near 400 year old map.

The map stretches to Carlisle and beyond in Cumberland. The county border is clearly shown as a dotted line and at this time Berwick – Upon – Tweed (Barwick) is clearly in England. Holy Island, the Farnes and Coquet Island feature in their olde names. The Cheviot and Simonside Hills are shown and numerous of the Northumberland Norman Castles feature. Interestingly, Cartington has been mis-engraved and a little “t” has been inserted above … a distinctive feature of this engraving that pins its provenance down quite nicely. Voyager used to play among the ruins of Cartington as a young fellow.

Special map of Northumberland a delight for expatriate Northumbrians and all.

$160.00

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Map of Van Diemen’s Land or Tasmania – A.K. Johnston FRGS – 1844

A large scale quality map engraved by W & A.K. Johnston and published in Edinburgh in 1844.

The cartographer was Alexander Keith Johnston (1804-1871) and it was published in the National Atlas of Historical, Commercial and Political Geography both by the cartographer and his bother William in Edinburgh and by Robert Weir and James Lumsden in Glasgow. Alexander Johnston had been apprenticed to James Kirwood and the great William Home Lizars. His brother, later knighted, became the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Large scale with central fold the printed area 57cm by 47cm. Thick paper and very good condition with strong pastel colouring. The whole of map image is difficult to photograph due to its size so we have scanned various sections on our A3 machine so you can see the extent of the detail and the quality of the map.

An interesting historical map. The odd historical note is added such as the discovery of Adventure Bay by Furneaux in 1773 and Cook’s anchorage there in 1777; Baudin’s discovery of Oyster Bay in 1802 etc.

A summary note states “Van Diemen’s Land was discovered by Tasman in 1642 & is hence sometimes called Tasmania, it received its present name in honour of Anthony Vandiemen, Gov General of the Dutch E. indies. It was visited by Cook & Furneaux 1773-7 & was found to be an island by the discovery of the Bass’ Strait, 1798, in 1804 it was formally taken possession of in the name of Britain; and the site HOBART TOWN fixed on for the Capital. Emigration from England began in 1821, when the V.D. Land Bank was established, in 1825 it was declared independant (sic) of N.S. Wales & the chief authority vested in a Lieut. Governor & Council.”

Tooley reference 780 and Tooley maps of Tasmania 315, National Collection 22985553

Price $340.00 unframed.

One of the best maps of the 1840’s a full of interesting detail. Very good condition and would frame to make a significant statement.

$340.00

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The Life of Gerard Mercator – Set of Six Trade Cards – Liebig

A View of the Island of St Helena – Allain Mallet -1683

Report to The Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of the Territory of New Guinea from 1st July 1930 to 30th June 1931.

Madagascar – I.S. Lauretij Published by Cornelis Claesz, Petrus Bertius, Barent Langenes, – engraved by Benjamin Wright – c1600

Map of Northumberland – John Speed / Pieter van den Keere – 1627

Map of Van Diemen’s Land or Tasmania – A.K. Johnston FRGS – 1844

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