Historic Map : Delamarche Case Map of The World, 1859, Vintage Wall Art

Felix Delamarche's 1859 case map off the World. Drawn on a monumental scale, this incredible map covers the known world, from the Arctic Icecap to the just discovered Terres Australes (Antarctica). The map purports to be based upon nautical charts and the most recent marine documents available. Cartographically it reflects some of the most recent discoveries, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic - for which the 19th century world had a particular fascination. In addition to the standard cartographic elements, Delamarche has added a host of additional information including cultural notes on the peoples and places depicted and no less than seventeen illustrative vignettes. Some of these include prospectors panning gold in California, a large illustration of arctic explorers besieged by angry polar bears, the Great Wall of China, the Falls of Niagara, a Micronesian House, and the Amazon Rain Forest, among others. Tabular data at the base of the map showcases the distances of the worlds capitals form Paris, the lengths of the world's great rivers, the heights of mountains, and a timetable of discovery. Engraved by Felix Delamarche of 45 Rue St. Andre des Arts, Paris for B. Renault and Company, 46 Rue D'Ulm, Pairs. With the birth of the arm chair explorer in the mid-19th century, illustrative images once again began working their way into maps. These new illustrations however, were pictorial and intended to illustrate natural wonders, foreign cultures, and exotic animals. Examples of this style include the Illustrated Atlas of Englishman John Tallis and, more commonly, the cartography of the French tradition exemplified by Levassuer, Vuillemin, Delamarche.