Australia large Lake Torren hook empty interior 1855 Colton map hand color

Australia.

(Oceania, Australia, Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Pacific Ocean).

Issued New York, c.1855-6 by J.H. Colton.

Fine mid-19th century antique engraved and lithographed map with original hand color. Nice decorative scroll-work border adds to the visual appeal.

There are numerous variant issues of this map, chronically the discovery of the interior as it occured.

Of particular historical note for the very clear hooked delineation assigned to the supposed outline of Lake Torrens. Reference lists in three corners identify 26, 24, 12 & 68 counties, short list of discovery dates bottom left.

In attractive well preserved condition; minor light surface age wear and toning as typical, some faint minor foxing in the blank margins, overall the map remains clean, well preserved and attractive.

Sheet measures c. 15 1/2" x 18 1/2"

Engraved area measures c. 12 1/2" x 15 1/2"

[R21035]

Tooley, Mapping of Australia, 314 (noting other variant imprints for which there could almost certainly be added numerous further little documented variant states tracing the development of the interior).

Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers , v. 1, p. 288.