Large Wall Map - "Stanford's Library Map of Australasia" - London - 1st Edition 1859

"Stanford’s map of Australasia"

"Constructed by A. Keith Johnston F.R.S.E., F.R.G.S. &c."

 "London, Published May 10th 1859, by Edward Stanford. 6 Charing Cross"

-The First edition of this important folding steel engraved map

-Complete with original gold tooled Leather binding and 48 coloured sections laid on linen

-Size 155cm x 174cm (26 x 22cm when folded)

Condition: Wear to binding (especially spine) and the blue end papers. Ribbon around edge of map loose in places. Some marks to map and lifting of the print from the linen backing in some areas. Otherwise very good and complete example of this map in its original binding.

This map was produced for high end individuals and institutions by the celebrated London map dealer Edward Stanford in Charing Cross. The map was engraved by Keith Johnston, who had produced several well received and popular atlases. The map demonstrates positions of roads, towns, railways and submarine telegraph lines and was remarkably accurate for its day.

The map is interesting for its depiction of five Australian states with a northern border to New South Wales without naming the newly formed state of Queensland. The map was produced only a Month before the official establishment of Queensland (June 1859) which explains why despite being depicted, it is not named on this map. The interior of Australia is largely empty although several explorations are shown including those of Augustus Charles Gregory who had traveled from Gladstone (modern day Queensland)  to Lake Gregory (Western Australia) from 1855-56, and from Brisbane to Adelaide via Cooper Creek in 1858.

An Excellent and complete example of this fine large map of Australia, New Zealand and the the Pacific.