Antique Map of Asia with a Population Table of the Asiatic States, 1858

An original antique map of Asia, a steel engraving colored by hand in outline, with a pale blue wash along the coasts and on the larger lakes. The title reads "Asia". The map spans the continent from the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and Arabia in the west to Japan, Kamchatka and the Bhering Strait in the east, and from the Arctic Ocean to the Indian Ocean, the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and New Guinea. It names the Russian Empire across Siberia, Independent Tartary, Persia, Cabool, Hindoostan, the Chinese Empire with Mongolia and Mandchouria, Corea and the Japan Islands, with mountain ranges shown by hachures. Below the title is the line "Published under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge." At upper left is a table headed "Asiatic States" and "Population". It lists figures from the Turkish Dominions at 11,000,000 and Hindoostan &c. at 134,000,000 to the "Chinese Empire by Census of 1813" at 361,000,000, ending with "Population of Asia 630,000,000". Scales in the left margin read "French Leagues 25 = 1 degree" and "English Miles 69 = 1 degree of mean latitude". The plate number 18 is engraved above the upper right corner, the imprint "London, Edward Stanford. 6. Charing Cross." runs below the lower border, and "Engraved by J. & C. Walker" sits at the lower right. The plate comes from The Harrow Atlas of Modern Geography, published by Edward Stanford in London in 1858 and sold at Harrow by Crossley and Clarke, booksellers to Harrow School. Its maps were selected from the series of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, founded in London in 1826, which issued its maps in parts from 1829 and was wound up in 1848; Stanford later issued them under his own imprint. The map shows Independent Tartary, Bokhara and Khiva as separate from the Russian Empire, and the table takes its figure for China from a census of 1813. Condition: Light handling wear to the bottom left corner; a small V-shaped notch to the bottom edge at the center fold. A center fold, as issued. Light, uneven toning. A few small foxing spots in the margin. A small light fleck in the printed area. This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed. Size: 35.5 x 44 cm Stock number: BG-14227-1-18. …