Japan Nippon, Kiusiu, Sikok, Yesso and the Japanese Kurile

Code: 53585

1871

Steel engraved  map with original full wash hand colouring delineating the provinces. Overall sheet size: 43.2cms x 35.6cms ; image size : 402mm x 331mm.  Text on back describing the Empire of Japan.  Inset top left of Yesso; bottom right Bay of Nagasaki. Compiled from the maps of Siebold and from the 1850 U.S. Japan Expedition.  Decorative spiral border.  Very good condition apart from browning margin edges and faint waterstain bottom left corner away from map.
 
George Woolworth Colton (1827 - 1901) was the son of Joseph Hutchins Colton (July 5, 1800 - July 29, 1893) who was an important American map and atlas publisher operating between 1833 to 1897. JH Colton recognized a gap in the market and published guides for immigrants and updated maps with decorative borders after purchasing the copyright from cartographers such as David H. Burr. His two sons worked in the business with him on the vast output of railroad maps, guides and several atlases.  The non payment of the fee from Bolivia for a large quantity of maps of the country was financially disastrous for the company.  The maps are characterised by their decorative spiral borders and  vibrant contemporary hand colouring.