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C1842
Australia from surveys made by order of the British Government combined with those of D’Encastreaux, Baudin, Freycinet & c. & c.
Mapmaker:
Arrowsmith’s 1842 issue of this important large map of Australia, printed on two sheets and joined, recording the extent of settlement and the progress of inland exploration up to 1842. This map was issued in two different formats; 1. In … Read Full Description
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Full Title:
Australia from surveys made by order of the British Government combined with those of D’Encastreaux, Baudin, Freycinet & c. & c.
Date:
C1842
Mapmaker:
Condition:
Small repaired tears to sheet edges, some soiling mainly at top right, otherwise in good condition. Two sheets joined as issued.
Technique:
Copper engraving with original hand colouring.
Image Size:
870mm
x 645mm
Paper Size:
895mm
x 685mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1842
Description:
Arrowsmith’s 1842 issue of this important large map of Australia, printed on two sheets and joined, recording the extent of settlement and the progress of inland exploration up to 1842.
This map was issued in two different formats;
1. In the more often seen format, each sheet has a separate title ie: the title appears twice.
2. As our map in two sheets as in format 1, but with the title printed only on the western sheet (left). This version is much rarer.
The map was the largest scale map of Australia available at that time. Arrowsmith derived much of his up to date information directly from explorers logs and the Colonial Secretary in London.
WESTERN PORTION:
Twenty-six counties are shown which are numbered and listed in table bottom left.
The boundary between New South Wales and Western Australia shown at 129°E. The territorial limits of the Colony of Western Australia first formally defined by Letters patent dated 4th March 1831. Prior to that date the western boundary of New South Wales was by Letters patent of 6th July 1825, proclaimed at Sydney 20th Dec. 1825 extended to 129°E).
The western boundary of South Australia is shown at 132°E declared on 28th December 1836. (McLelland, M. H. 1971, p. 672-3, 677)
The tracks of the following explorers are shown;Â George Grey and Franklin Lushington Dec. 1837- April 1838, George Grey 1839, John Lort Stokes 1837-38, John Clements Wickham 1839, John Edward Eyre 1840, Wickham and Stokes April-Sept. 1840.
In the 1840/1 state of the map Victoria is inserted on the Coburg Peninsula. Coburg Peninsula is now shortened to Coburg Pa.
In this state of the map the Houtman Abrolhos Islands off the west coast have been redrawn and the individual island and passage names appear, i.e. North Is., Wallabi Is., Middle Passage, Easter Island, Zeewyk Passage. The Pelsaert Group named and South I. and Batavia Rd. named. South of these is Turtle Dove. This charting of the Abrolhos was performed by Wickham and Stokes from April 1st until May 23rd. 1840 (Hordern, Marsden 1989, pp 212-219 passim). On the opposite mainland coast Port Grey repositioned further north. Mt. Fairfax name repositioned.
EASTERN PORTION:
In the Northern Territory the Albert and Flinders Rivers, the Plains of Promise and Disaster Inlet are shown at the head of the Gulf of Carpentaria. These discoveries and namings resulted from the explorations of Captain Lort Stokes in the Beagle’s boats during July and August of 1841.
In South Australia the shape of L. Alexandrina has been changed. L. Albert, Malcolm and the Coorong appear on the south coast.
References:Â Prescott 1842
Collections:
National Library of Australia:Â Map Ra 112 Plate 59
State Library of NSW (Mitchell collection):Â Â Z/M2 804/1842/1
State Library of Victoria:Â Maps 804 A 1842 Arrowsmith
John Arrowsmith (1790 - 1873)
English mapmaker, the last of a family of map makers that produced maps during the period 1790 to 1870. His uncle Aaron (1750 - 1823) left the north of England and went to work in London as a land surveyor where he surveyed the Great Post Roads between London and Falmouth which was engraved and published by John Cary an engraver in 1782 (Verner, 1971, p.1). In the 1790s he decided to establish his own map making business. He published about 200 maps and achieved great eminence being appointed Hydrographer to the King in 1820. John Arrowsmith, Aaron's nephew, who was born in Winston, county Durham, England (1790 - 1873) came to work for him in 1810. During the next thirteen years he learned from his uncle the art of map making, including engraving and printing. His two cousins, Aaron junior (1802-54) and Samuel (1805-39) (Verner, 1971, p.2) both worked in the business and inherited jointly the house, business, copper plates, presses etc. as stated in their father's will. By the time of his uncle's death John had established his own business which operated out of 33 East Street, Red Lion Square, although he still worked with his two cousins Aaron and Samuel. All three produced individual works, although Samuel was in charge of the business at 10 Soho Square. Aaron the younger, lost interest in map making and ceased producing maps in 1832 (Verner, 1971, p.2). In 1839 Samuel died and John bought the business including plates, MSS and copyrights at auction of December 1839 (Herbert, 1983) and continued operating from 10 Soho Square. In 1834 he produced his magnum opus, The London Atlas of Universal Geography, which he continued to revise and reissue until the last 1858 edition. However his atlas contains maps of later dates into the 60s (Herbert, 1989). He became a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society in London (1830) and a member of its council. He remained an active member for over forty years during which time he met many explorers and persons of influence who were instrumental in supplying him with information for his maps. In 1831 the society's Journal was established and Arrowsmith began producing maps for it from 1832 until 1870. He received the Gold medal of the Society in 1863 (Tooley, 1999). After his death his plates were bought by Edward Stanford of London who continued to issue the atlas with the name of Stanford's London Atlas of Universal Geography. This atlas continued into the 1920s. (Dorothy Prescott, 2010-2015)
