"Modern Palestine", Tallis, John

The maps from The Illustrated Atlas were first published in serial form to a target audience that led insular lives due to the expense and hardship of travel. All that changed as the progress of the nineteenth century brought swift and dramatic changes in public awareness of far away places. Tallis' maps no doubt played an important role in this dramatic awakening. These maps not only provided up-to-date geographical knowledge, but also used vignette views within the map's design to show the native people and their occupations, cities and points of interest. The maps hark back to a cartographic tradition from the Dutch mapmakers of the seventeenth century with finely engraved decorative borders. The maps were drawn and engraved by John Rapkin with views drawn and engraved by a number of prominent artists. The maps were issued as a complete volume from 1851 until about 1865. Some of the maps were also published in other history books published by Tallis including British Colonies and, without the vignettes, in geographical dictionaries and encyclopedias until about 1880.

Attractive and finely engraved map that shows the region of Israel, Lebanon and part of Jordan divided into regions. The map locates the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, and many cities, harbors, mountains, and rivers. Four vignettes of Jaffa, Nazareth, natives of Mount Lebanon, and a gazelle decorate the map. John Tallis (1792-1842) started his business of producing maps, atlases, books and prints in London, and eventually a branch was established in New York City. Map drawn and engraved by J. Rapkin, illustrations by H. Warren and engraved by R. Baker.

References: Laor #635.

Condition: A

Faint toning along sheet edges.