"Italy", 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 Italy depicts Giuseppe Garibaldi, a politician and patriot who fought for the unification of Italy. Garibaldi is holding a Liberty cap and is wearing a red shirt in reference to the volunteer soldiers who fought for him both in Uruguay and Sicily. Garibaldi also sought to eliminate the papacy, which is represented by a diminutive Pope Pius IX in Sardinia. Below the map is the verse:

Thou model chieftain - born in modern days -
Well may thy gallant acts claim classic praise.
Uncompromising friend of liberty!
Thy Photograph ennobles Italy!

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

Condition: B+

Lightly toned with a few small spots, rounded corners of the sheet, and some dampstains along the edges of the sheet.