"Scotland", Aleph

Satirical political maps appear throughout cartographic history and gained popularity in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This is one in a series of twelve maps of Europe that depicted the political geography in human form. The idea for the maps originated from Eliza Jane Lancaster (later known by her stage name as Lilian Lancaster), who made drawings as a young girl to amuse her sick brother. Aleph, the pseudonym for William Harvey, compiled the maps and wrote the verses that accompany them. According to his introduction, the illustrations were meant as a humorous, educational aid in the study of geography, rather than the political satire they became. Harvey's publication first appeared in 1869, published by Hodder & Stoughton with the maps printed by the firm of Vincent, Brooks, Day & Son. This rare humorous chromolithograph of Scotland depicts a kilted Scotsman chiseling away at a large rock that represents the Grampian region, which now encompasses Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Moray. Below the map is the verse:

"A gallant piper, struggling through the bogs,
His wind bag broken, wearing his clay clogs;
Yet, strong of heart, a fitting emblem makes
For Scotland - land of heroes and of cakes.

References: cf. Manasek #115; Slowther (Map Collector #16), pp. 48-50.

Condition: B+

Light soiling mostly confined to the edges of the sheet and rounded corners of the sheet.