John Tallis, North America, 1851

Nicely hand-colored example of Tallis’s map of North America, stretching from Panama to the unmapped “Arctic Highlands” of the “Parry Islands” (Queen Elizabeth Islands).

The map includes numerous decorative vignettes from all over the continent, as well as Europe and Asia. These include views of Esquimaux, Mount Hekla (in Iceland), beavers, Niagara Falls, a convoy of diamonds in South America, and ancient monuments in Mexico, North American Indians, Wapiti Deer, and Russian Cossacks, all in the same image.

Despite the late date of publication of this map, the American West is barely recognizable. “Upper California” stretches eastwards to the Rocky Mountains, as does Oregon. The Missouri Territory, Nebraska, and the Western Territories form most of the remaining Midwest west of Minnesota. New Mexico comprises the Texas Panhandle. Alaska is well-defined but named Russian America (it would not be transferred until 1867).

Tallis’ mapmaking was precise and highly detailed, but also illustrative as seen in the present map. The maps produced represent a high point in nineteenth-century mapmaking. His collaboration with mapmaker John Rapkin and engraver J. Rogers produced maps of high quality and detail that proved very successful. John Tallis was the son of a publisher and printer who was also named John. He operated a printworks with his brother Frederick until 1850 as J. & F. Tallis, and then continued his publishing business as J. Tallis & Co. From London, he went on to establish agencies in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Cincinnati, and Baltimore.

Tallis was one of the last great decorative map makers. His maps are prized for the wonderful vignettes of indigenous scenes, people, and more that they often show.