Darton William Junior (2 results)

Game mapseller Engraving. William Darton (1781-1854) was an engraver, mapseller, bookseller, publisher and printseller, active in London at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Apprenticed to his father William Darton, in 1795, he branched out with his brother Thomas Darton in 1804, and set up on his own on in 1810. As well as maps of London and the English counties, he specialised in the publication of educational children's games including jigsaws.

A pair of rare game maps of the world Two engraved maps (each measuring 500 by 940 mm), both with fine original full-wash colour, each dissected and mounted on to a single piece of linen with the rules on each side, folding into original brown cloth slipcase, with publisher's label. Two companion geographical games of the eastern and western hemispheres. The player begins his journey of the eastern hemisphere in Ireland, travelling through Europe, then on through Asia to China, the East Indies, and Australia. The player then crosses the Indian Ocean and visits the east coast of Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and the Middle East, where the traveller visits Mecca, whose temple is said to "resemble the Royal Exchange in shape, but is nearly ten times as large". After visiting the over sized royal exchange, the player heads for Africa, ending his travels and winning the game, in Sierra Leone. Although the last line suggests not to be over enthusiastic in celebration: "Pray bear your victory modestly and moderately for now". The game of the western hemisphere begins in Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. The player then travels up to the Arctic Circle, into the Atlantic Ocean to visit the Cape Verde Islands, and then back to complete a tour of Central and North America. After north America the game heads into the Pacific. The travels end with a tour of South America, the game being won by the first person to reach Buenos Aires, which is said to be "a truly delightful country", where, "people of one hundred years old or upwards are not uncommon". Along the way the player is told many fascinating and unusual details about the places he or she visits. By far the the longest description is left for the The Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands) where "the amiable, the enterprising, the ingenious and excellent Captain Cook was murdered!" . After a brief introduction regarding the islands and its inhabitants, in which the women are described as "commonly ill-made, with coarse features, a gloomy air, and are besides rude, sluggish and awkward in their manners", the text goes on to deal with the death of Captain Cook at great length. However, the text ends on an upbeat note: "notwithstanding the fatal affair above recorded, the natives are acknowledged to be the most mild and affectionate disposition, and in hospitality to strangers are not exceeded even by the inhabitants of the Friendly Islands".