Map of the Islands in the Pacific Ocean by John Thomson

Code: 53336

Author: Thomson, John

Publisher: New General Atlas

Date published: 1821

Copper engraving by Neele with original hand colouring. Overall size: 74cms x53.1cms. Image size: 602mm x 504mm including imprint. Centrefold as published. New Holland (Australia) bottom left corner. ; Sandwich Islands top right Shows the Hawaiian Islands (Sandwich Islands), Society Islands, Solomon Islands, Caroline Islands, New Hebrides, Friendly Islands, the eastern part of New Guinea, and the coast of New South Wales, Australia. Insets of Owhynee (Big Island of Hawai'i), Karakakooa Bay, Otaheite (Tahiti), and Matavia Bay. Excellent detail along the coast of Australia and New Guinea. Centrefold as published. Stray mark in lower margin and odd spot in margin else very good condition. John Thomson was one of the leading exponents of the Edinburgh school of cartography which reached its zenith between 1800 and 1830. Thomson & his contemporaries such as Pinkerton and Cary redefined European cartography by abandoning such 18th century decorative elements as elaborate title cartouches and fantastic beasts in favour of detail and accuracy. Thomson's principle works include the Thomson's New General Atlas published from 1814 though 1827 (from which this map originates) and his Atlas of Scotland. The Atlas of Scotland, a work of groundbreaking detail and dedication would eventually bankrupt the Thomson firm in 1830. His maps are prized today for the quality of their detail, their size and the attractiveness of the original colouring.