British Empire Throughout the World Exhibited in One View

Antique maps are not only highly attractive decorative objects but also important records documenting history and our ever changing perceptions of the globe.  We have an continuously expanding collection of antique maps available to view and purchase at the gallery, with examples covering every county and continent, and price ranges to suit widely differing budgets.

Its easy to browse our website by area, or pop into the gallery to view first hand.

Fullarton's map of the British Empire, pictured left, is a wonderful example of a map which is both informative and highly decorative.



British Empire Throughout the World Exhibited in One View.
Fullarton, Archibald
Copper engraved with hand colouring
London and Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co., c.1872
425 x 530 mm

This double page map is titled British Empire Throughout The World Exhibited In One View. The British possessions are coloured in red as was typical of maps of the period showing the British Empire. It is highly decorative and it appeared in Fullarton's Royal Illustrated Atlas which was first published in 1864 after being issued in 27 parts from 1854-62. Map surrounded by drawings of the inhabitants of each dominion. Tables include size and population of nations around the world.

The date of 1872 is estimated by the Australia map; all the maps are undated and probably date throughout the period 1864 to 1872:

The Light of Science

There are still some fascinating prints available as part of our Light of Science catalogue release.

Please click here to download a copy of the catalogue.

The Light of Science dispelling the Darkness which Covered the World
Henry Thomas De la Beche
Lithograph
c.1832
Image 207 x 315 mm, Sheet 226 x 330 mm

Allegorical illustration showing the figure of a woman wearing an elaborate hat, standing in clouds, shining a gas lamp on the world. The caricature depicts Lady Murchinson, wife of Sir Roderick Impey Murchinson.

Lady Cahrlotte [née Hugonin] Murchison (1788–1869), geologist. She married Roderick Murchison in 1815 and was a partner in his geological researches. She was a lielong friend with the geologist Mary Anning.

Sir Henry Thomas De la Beche FRS (10 February 1796 – 13 April 1855) was an English geologist and palaeontologist who helped pioneer early geological survey methods.

William Nicholson Prints

We currently have a wonderful collection of William Nicholson lithographs, from his famous An Alphabet series (pictured left), to a selection of prints from his An Almanac of Tweleve Sports (below). We also have in stock some of his views of  Oxford, aswell as a stunning graphic advertisement from Les Maitres de l'Affiche and a rare original woodcut.

P for Publican
William Nicholson
Lithograph
1898 [William Heinemann]
Image 247 x 197 mm
Condition: Excellent impression.

Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (1872 – 1949) was an English painter, also known for his work as an illustrator and author of children's books.

A student at Hubert von Herkomer's art school, Nicholson is well known for his partnership with his brother-in-law James Pryde. Known as the Beggarstaff Brothers they produced striking graphical work and woodcuts, their poster work being particularly significant historically.

Ahead of his time in his distinctive graphic style, Nicholson's prints are instantly recognisable and can appear as contemporary today as when they first appeared on the market.

Boxing (November)
William Nicholson
Lithograph
Popular edition 1897 (post-dated 1898) William Heinemann
Image 196 x 198 mm

Mapping the Stars

This fascinating celestial map forms part of a collection of magnificent stellar maps from Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas.

Alexander Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas was an attempt to produce a British version of the highly popular atlases of Jean Fortin in France and Johann Bode in Germany. Unlike his predecessors Jamieson allowed himself more artistic freedom in the depiction of his figures and his illustrations are notibly more realistic and pleasing to the eye.

These scarce maps depict the constellations and the allergorical figures associated with them in incredible detail. In the substantial accompanying text Jamieson includes descriptions of the constellations and their orgins in ancient mythology as well as lists of the main stars with positions for the year 1820 and exercises for students.

Cancer. Plate XVI.
Jamieson, Alexander
Copper engraved
Image 179 x 224 mm, Plate 210 x 265 mm, Sheet 230 x 290 mm
Published, February 1, 1822, by G & W Whittakers, Ave Maria Lane, London

Cancer, the Crab, is the first of the Summer signs. According to the Greeks, Jupiter placed this crab among the signs of the zodiac; and it is further represented as the same which Juno sent to bite Hercules while he fought the Hydra in the lake of Lerna, in the Peloponnessus. In the zodiacs of Dendera we find Scarabaeus, or Beetle. In copying the Greeks have given us a crab.

(Description taken from the accompanying text in publication.)