ATLASES 

JAMIESON, Alexander.
[Celestial Atlas]
An Atlas of Outline Maps of the Heavens, Adapted to Dr. Jamieson's Celestial Atlas. London, G & W.B. Whittaker, 1824, atlas size; 230 x 290mm Original marbled cardboard cover, III pp incl. title pg, 28 plates as called for
A small celestial atlas consisting of 28 engraved plates with the constellations drawn according to their classical forms.
[Ref: 10839]  

CHODZKO, Leonard & DUFOUR, Auguste Henri.
[An atlas of the Partitioning of Poland]
Atlante Istorico Politico e Statistico della Polonia Antica e Moderna, con la indicazione dei suoi diversi smembramenti e divisioni. Capolago (Switzerland): Tipografia Elvetica, 1832. Folio, original half calf with marbled boards; engr. title, folding map surrounded by letterpress, seven double-page maps, all with original hand colour.
A collection of maps illustrating the history of the dismemberment of Poland at the hands of Russia, Austria and Prussia. The seven double-page maps, each printed from the same plate, have been coloured differently and given a title label to show the various stages: Poland and its provinces, 1768; the First Dismemberment, 1772; the Second Dismemberment, 1793; the 'annihilation' of Poland as a kingdom, 1795; the creation of the Duchy of Warsaw by Napoleon, 1807; the Second Duchy of Warsaw, 1809 (with land won back from Austria after Wagram); and the New Kingdom of Poland, 1815 (as partitioned by the Congress of Vienna). The maps were prepared by Leonard Chodzko (1800-71), a Polish historian and political activist during the Polish November Uprising of 1830-1. When its failure started the Great Emigration he spent the rest of his life in France.
[Ref: 11130]  

WYLD, James.
[A beautifully coloured English atlas]
An Atlas of the World Comprehending Separate maps of its various Countries, Constructed and Drawn from the latest Astronomical & Geographical Observations. London, James Wyld, Charing Cross East, 1834, original colour, book size: 340 x 260mm
A very good copy of this important early 19th century atlas by one of the periods most noted cartographers, in its original binding with marbled endpapers. Containing 54 maps in original colour, and tables as per the table of contents at the start of the atlas
[Ref: 9623]  

ARROWSMITH, John.
[The London Atlas, with Arrowsmith's map of the Republic of Texas]
The London Atlas of Universal Geography, exhibiting the physical & political divisions of the various countries of the world, constructed from original materials. London, John Arrowsmith, 1842. Folio, modern half calf with the original morocco title label and marbled boards; engr. title, index & 66 engraved maps with original hand colour (63 double-page, 2 with folding strips, 1 folding), all tabbed at right margin with printed names for identification; some light waterstaining to contents leaf and one or two maps towards the rear of the volume.
A fine example of one of the most impressive nineteenth century English atlases, including a highly important map of the Republic of Texas. John Arrowsmith first published his Texas map on 16 November 1841, shortly after the Republic was officially recognized by Great Britain; this second state is dated 8 June 1843. It "was probably the first to show the full extent of Texas's claim to the region of the upper Rio Grande, an area included within Texas's boundaries until the Compromise of 1850... the map certainly was the best information on Texas geography available in Europe" (Martin & Martin Maps of Texas and the Southwest, 32; see also Streeter Bibliography of Texas, 1373). The ‘London Atlas' is one of the finest examples of English 19th century atlases, by one of its greatest geographers. The first edition was in 1834, with subsequent editions with title pages dated 1840, 1842 and 1858, but as Arrowsmith was continually adding new maps there is no firm collation for any edition. The contents sheet for this copy, for example, calls for fifty maps, but it has been supplemented with an additional fifteen maps bound in at the end, and an extra map of Central Africa by Stanford showing Congo Free State. The maps were also continuously updated and corrected, so that most appear in several states. The later editions of the atlas are the most valuable, as they include a larger number of maps, and many new ones of great importance, such as those in the present example on Texas and also Australia. The Library of Congress, for example, has an 1834 edition, which contains just two maps relating to Australia. This example has seven maps devoted to Australia and New Zealand, including some of the most important for that region published during the 19th century.
[Ref: 6226]  

GARCIA Y CUBAS, Antonio.
[The First Atlas of Mexico printed in Mexico]
Atlas geográfico, estadístico é histórico de la República Mexicana... Mexico City: printed for the Author by Jose Mariano Fernandez de Lara, 1858. Folio, rebound with original gilt-embossed morocco covers and spine laid on; title, pp. (iii), incl. list of maps, + (24) (indexes), 31 lithographed maps on thirty double-page sheets, all in fine original colour, and two plates, one coloured, as called for. Occasional age spotting, the edges of a few sheets reinforced.
A very important work, being the first atlas of Mexico to be produced in Mexico by a Mexican.. Published when Garcia y Cubas was only 26, Sabin estimates that only 300 copies were printed. There maps are one general map of Mexico with a decorative title cartouche and two composite vignette views; and another general map & 29 provinces and territories surrounded by letterpress text and tables. The two plates reproduce an Aztec text describing their settlement of the valley of Mexico City, with a commentary by Jose Fernando Ramirez of the National Museum. SABIN: 26554; PHILIPS: 2683.
[Ref: 8225]  

LEEDER, Ehrenfried & SCHADE, Theodor.
[Old atlas illustrated by Heinrich Leutermann]
Illustrirter Handatlas für Freunde der Erdkunde und zum Gebrauch beim unterricht. im verein mit Heinrich Leutemann... Leipzig: F.A. Brockhaus, 1863. Folio, original half morocco with gilt-lettered boards, rebacked; pp. (86) + 22 wood-engraved maps with original hand colour.
An educational antique atlas, with the 22 coloured maps surrounded by vignettes of people, flora & fauna and other interesting features, drawn by Heinrich Leutemann (1824-1905). Leutemann illustrated a number of books on zoology and anthropology, as well as drawing a number of historical subjects.
[Ref: 12134]  

FULLARTON, Archibald.
[A decorative Victorian world atlas]
The Royal Illustrated Atlas, of Modern Geography. London & Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co, 1872. Folio, publisher's morocco, blocked in blind and gilt, gilt edges; engraved title, pp. (iv)+84+(4)+(102)(index), 76 tinted lithographic maps and plans (numbered to 74, but three numbered '25')
A fine Victorian antique atlas, a mixture of plainer double-page antique maps of countries and decorative single-page sheets with instructive vignettes ranging from wildlife to coffee porduction and city views. Many of these relate to the colonies of each European country.
[Ref: 12107]  

  BOOKS 

MACROBIUS, Ambrosius.
[With an Early World Map]
In Somnium Scipionis... Lyons, Sebastian Gryphius, 1542. Small 8vo, Original Vellum Binding; pp. 567 + 73 (index); several woodcut text illustrations.Light toning and occasional foxing.
Macrobius was a Roman philosopher and geographer, AD 399-423. This work is a commentary on 'The Dream of Scipio', a section of Cicero's 'Republic' that had been lost until 1821, when a palimpsest (a used sheet of parchment that had been cleaned for reuse) was discovered with the original text still legible underneath later writing. Cicero theorised that the northern lands are balanced by a southern continent (Antipodes), which are unreachable because of the lands of fire (Perusta). The theory is illustrated with a diagrammatic world map (p.154). This clashed with the teachings of the Church, who insisted that as Bible states that the whole world was re-populated by the sons of Noah there could be no unreachable Antipodes. Macrobius's text was a standard school text throughout the Middle Ages. See SHIRLEY: World 13.
[Ref: 8681]  

ZAHN, Johann.
[A Fine Cosmography]
Specula physico-mathematico-historica notabilium ac mirabilium sciendorum in qua Mundi Mirabilis Å’conomia... Nuremberg: J.C.Lochner, 1696. 3 vols in two, folio, contemporary speckled calf, gilt spines in compartments; pp. [xl]+448 + [7]; [xxiv]+460+[8]; [xvi]+248 (lacking N2-3)+[8]. With 3 engr. frontispieces, portrait, 54 engr. plates (26 folding), 16 folding tables.
A finely illustrated cosmography, written by a German monk. Cartographic plates include maps of the Solar System, a pair of Celestials, the sun, moon & Venus, the world and Mediterreanean showing sea currents, a pair of hemispheres and an ornate wind rose. Zoological plates include illustrations of seamonsters, demons, mermen, unicorns and bizarre breeds of men. Johann Zahn (1631-1707) also published a book on optics, 'Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus Sive Telescopium' (1685), with extensive descriptions of both the camera obscura and the magic lantern, which he used for anatomical lectures. SHIRLEY: World 583 & 584, "engravings of a high standard"; WARNER: Sky Explorerd p.267.
[Ref: 5993]  

ALINGHAM, William.
[18th century guide to the use of maps]
A Short Account, of the Nature and Use of Maps. As Also Some Short Discourses of the Division of the Earth Into Zones, Climes and Parallels; To Which Is Subjoined a Catalogue of the Factories and Places now in the Possession of the English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Danes, both in the East and West Indies. With several Tables very useful in Geography and Navigation. London, Printed by R. Janeway, for Benjamin Barker, 1703. 8vo, original full calf; pp. (viii)+85+(3), one folding plate. Binding chipped and worn, text damp stained, with wear.
A guide to making and using maps.
[Ref: 12384]