Stanford’s Library Map of Australasia constructed by A. Keith Johnston F.R.S.E., F.R.G.S. &c.

Cover title: Stanford’s map of Australasia. London : Edward Stanford, 1859. First edition. Steel engraved map with hand colouring, total 1550 x 1740 mm, dissected into 48 sections, laid onto linen edged with blue silk, folding to 255 x 215 mm, within original embossed brown morocco boards with gilt lettering and ornament (rubbed, spine frayed at head and tail), engraved by W. &​ A.K. Johnston, Edinburgh, a near fine example of this truly monumental map (scale ca. 1:4 200 000), the original colouring still strong and vibrant. Housed in a sympathetic glazed frame.

The latest explorer’s track shown in this first edition of Stanford’s celebrated map is that of A.C. Gregory (1858). The map also indicates railways, roads, submarine telegraph lines. Relief is shown by hachures. The eastern part of the Malay archipelago, New Guinea, New Britain, New Ireland, the Solomons, the New Hebrides and New Caledonia are included.

Three copies of the 1859 edition are recorded in Australian collections (National Library of Australia; State Library of New South Wales; University of Queensland Library).