Lot No. 34: THOMSON, JOHN

THOMSON, JOHN

MAP OF INDIA WITH NEPAL

Mounted

Year: 1817

Map Size: 71.2 x 54 cm (28 x 21.2 inches)
Mount Size: 74.8 x 66.5 cm (29.4 x 26 inches)

This vintage object is a diptych map. This fascinating hand-coloured map published by John Thomson for 1817 Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy edition of John Thomsan’s ‘New General Atlas’ The map was engraved by John Samuel John Neele.

The upper part shows a view of India bounded on the east by Persia and the Indus valley, on the north by Tibet, on the south by Berar, and on the east by Assam and Bhutan. Much of the upper portion of this map includes a detailed inset of the Kingdom of Nepal, or Nepaul. This area is depicted in impressive detail considering that, when this map was printed, very few western travellers had ever been to Nepal. Includes roads, mountain passes, and the residences of important Lamas. It extends fully into the Tibetan plateau as far as Te Shoo Loomboo and the Road to Lhasa (Lassa). The right-hand corner of this map contains an inset of Kabul or Cabul.

Lower part covers southern India from Bombay to northern Ceylon. Many of these areas were at war with the British when this map went to the press.

John Thomson (1777-1840) was a commercial map publisher active in Edinburgh. John Thomson produced two major works in his lifetime: A New General Atlas of the World, 1814–28, and Atlas of Scotland, 1820–32. The maps from A New General Atlas of the World were printed in full hand colouring from large copperplate engravings. The level of detail at the time of publication was heralded as a breakthrough in British cartography, and Thompson rightly earned a great deal of attention, and his work was copied for a number of years.

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Provenance : Collection of a Gentleman