"Tunison's Peerless Universal Atlas of the World", Tunison, H. C.

This attractive and unusual atlas is complete with over 80 wax engraved, hand colored maps and diagrams, most with decorative borders and some with vignettes. Nearly half of the maps relate to the United States. Most of the maps are printed on both sides. The map of California, Oregon, and Nevada is particularly nice with insets of Yosemite and the Redwoods. Also featured are two pages of presidential portraits and numerous engravings showing the diverse civilizations and cultures of the world. The last map is Map of the Regions about the Unknown North Polar Sea Showing the Latest Exploring Expeditions. These maps are uncommon for their late hand coloring, a laborious process that was largely abandoned two decades earlier. Small folio, 208 pages. Hardbound in original, embossed brown cloth boards. A nice example of this increasingly difficult to find atlas.

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Condition: B+

The maps are very good to mostly near fine on clean sheets with vibrant colors. The map of Europe has a small abrasion along the top border. Text has uniform light toning with a few edge tears along the bottom sheet edge. Both boards are very loose but still attached, and there is average shelf wear with bumped corners.