Historic Map : Cruchley Map of Spain and Portugal, 1850, Vintage Wall Art

This is a beautiful example of George Frederick Cruchley's 1850 map of Spain and Portugal. It covers all of Spain and Portugal from the Pyrenees to the Strait of Gibraltar and includes the Balearic Islands of Ibiza and Majorca, with Minorca in a small inset. The map is color coded according to regions and territories and notes several cities, towns, rivers, mountains and other topographical features. As this map was printed liberal sentiments within Spain were gaining popularity. This eventually led to the Progressive Biennium, in which the Progressive Party tried to replace the conservative liberalism of the Moderate Party with more radical liberalism.

Cruchley's General Atlas was unique for its period, employing a vivid color scheme extending even to the oceans, distinctive typography, and various uncommon decorative elements including a peacock feather crown and an imprint medallion, both of which break the printed border.  Though many of the maps in this atlas are copyrighted in 1841, the atlas was first published in 1843 from the Cruchley office at 81 Fleet Street, London, and proving popular went through numerous reissues well into the 1850s.