1838 Wyld Wall Map of India (Hindostan or British India)
Description: This stunning wall map of India, dating to 1838 is James Wyld's reissued of William Faden's important c. 1799 map of the same region. This is one of the largest and most impressive maps of India to emerge in the 19th century. This chart depicts the subcontinent from Bombay ( Mumbai ) and Aurangabad, south including the northern half of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Though largely based on the 18th century mapmaking work of James Rennell, Wyld has significantly updated the Faden's cartographic representation of India by incorporating the survey work of Sir Archibald Campbell, Col. Kelly, Captain Pringle, and Colonel Allen. Consequently the issue of this important map marks a significant advancement in the 18th century perspective of India. The subcontinent is now crisscrossed with a broad network of roadways and significant interior detail has been added throughout. Here and there on the map are notes regarding the dates and battles related to the British conquest of India in the 18th century - these as well as the overall structure of the map have been retained from the original Faden map.
Date: 1838 (dated)
Source: Wyld, J., A new general atlas of modern geography consisting of a complete collection of maps of the four quarters of the globe delineating their physical features and coloured to show the limits of their respective states : including also the latest geographical and nautical discoveries, c. 1838.
Cartographer: James Wyld I (1790 - 1836) and his son James Wyld II (1812 - 1887) were the principles of English mapmaking dynasty active in London during much of the 19th century. The elder Wyld was a map publisher under William Faden and did considerable work on the Ordinance Survey. On Faden's retirement, the Wyld took over Faden's workshop acquiring many of his plates. Wyld's work can often be distinguished from his son's maps through his imprint, which he signed as "Successor to Faden". Following in his father's footsteps the younger Wyld joined the Royal Cartographical Society in 1830 at the tender age of 18. When his father died in 1836, James Wyld II was prepared to fully take over and expand his father's considerable cartographic enterprise. Like his father and Faden, Wyld II held the title of official Geographer to the Crown, in this case, Queen Victoria. Among his first major decisions was to move operations from William Faden's old office at Charing Cross East to a new larger space at 475 Strand. Wylde II also chose to remove Faden's name for all of his updated map plates. Wyld II continued to update and republish both his father's work and the work of William Faden well into the late 1880s. One of Wyld's most eccentric and notable achievements is his construction of a globe 20 meters in diameter in the heart of Leicester Square. In the 1840s Wyld also embarked upon a political career, being elected to parliament in 1847 and again in 1857. He died in 1887 following a prolific and distinguished career. Click here for a list of rare maps by James Wyld.
Size: Printed area measures 33 x 40 inches (83.82 x 101.6 centimeters)
Condition: Very good. Professionally flattened. Two sheets joined.
Code: India-wyld-1838 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)