Map of Oceania and Malaysia.
1892 (dated) 20 x 27 in (50.8 x 68.58 cm)
This is a beautiful example of Rand McNally and Company's 1892 map of Oceania and Malaysia. It covers the Malay Archipelago, Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Australasia. Three insets along the lower border detail the New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands, the Hawaiian or Sandwich Islands, and the eastern portions of Polynesia. The Malay Archipelago (or east Indies) is here referred to as Malaysia, not to be confused with the modern day country of Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula, which is not part of this map. Singapore, at the southern top of Malay, is however noted as a British territory. Papua New Guinea is divided into two regions, the northern part of which is named Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, which was at the time (from 1884 to 1918) part of the German empire. Throughout the map identifies various British, Dutch and French territories. Australia, divided into its five provinces of Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria is prominent. The map is highly detailed and color coded according to territories and regions. Several cities, towns, rivers, islands, deserts, mountains and various other topographical features are noted with relief shown by hachure. This map was issued as plate nos. 150 and 151 in the 1895 issue of Rand McNally and Company's Indexed Atlas of the World - possibly the finest atlas Rand McNally ever issued.
Rand McNally (fl. 1856 - present) is an American publisher of maps, atlases and globes. The company was founded in 1856 when William H. Rand, a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, opened a print shop in Chicago. Rand hired the recent Irish immigrant Andrew McNally to assist in the shop giving him a wage of 9 USD per week. The duo landed several important contracts, including the Tribune's (later renamed the Chicago Tribune) printing operation. In 1872 Rand McNally produced its first map, a railroad guide, using new cost effective printing technique known as wax process engraving. As the Chicago developed as a railway hub the Rand firm, now incorporated as Rand McNally, began producing a wide array of maps and guides. Over time the firm expanded into atlases, globes, education books, and general literature. By embracing the cost effective wax engraving process Rand McNally was able to dominate the map and atlas market, pushing more traditional American lithographic publishers like Colton, Johnson, and Mitchell out of business. Eventually Rand McNally opened an annex office in New York City headed by Caleb S. Hammond, whose name is today synonymous with maps and atlases, and who later started his own map company, C. S. Hammond & Co. Both firms remain in business.
Rand McNally & Co., Foreign Countries. Rand, McNally & Co's Indexed Atlas of the World (Complete in Two Volumes)…, (Chicago) 1895.
Very good. Original centerfold. Text on verso.
Rumsey 3565.040 (1897 edition). Philip (atlases) 1026 (1898 edition).