One of the most desirable maps of the British Empire during the Victorian period. It was published by Archibald Fullarton (fl. 1833-72) in the ‘Royal Illustrated Atlas of the Modern World’ in 1862. The Empire was approaching its zenith and the statement that the sun never set on it can already be stated. According to Lord Wardington this atlas was first issued in parts as a geographical companion to Fullarton’s ‘Gazetteer of the World’ from 1852-61. The Library of Congress example however bears the covers for the parts bound at the end, the last includes directions to the binder dated 1862. This is the first full edition of the atlas. The sought after maps are mostly by or after G. H. Swanston and J. Bartholomew, the latter was responsible for this world map.

It was customary to colour British possessions in red as here. The rest of the world is coloured in green except for much of the continent of Africa reflecting its intentions in that continent. Above and below are scenes of trade with various peoples of the world. The upper corners include data of the area under British control totalling 7, 214, 467 square miles and a population of 164,848,971. Provenance: acquired 1999. Phillips (1901-) 838; Smith (1998); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).