DESCRIPTION: Allegorical anthropomorphic map of Scotland from the celebrated 1868 series Geographical Fun, published in London by William Henry Harvey and lithographed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, with designs attributed to Lilian Lancaster. Here Scotland is cleverly transformed into a Highland piper striding across the nation’s outline, his kilt and plaid integrated into the Lowlands and Borders while the rugged Highlands form his bent back and shoulders. The Hebrides scatter offshore at left, and major firths and cities remain labeled, blending recognizable geography with spirited caricature.
The figure embodies Victorian notions of Scottish identity: martial, romantic, and resolutely Highland. His bagpipes extend across the eastern coast, visually merging national instrument and coastline, while tartan stockings and bonnet reinforce the era’s popular imagery of Scotland as a land of clans, heroes, and misted hills. The juxtaposition of cartographic precision and humorous exaggeration reflects the mid-19th century fascination with anthropomorphic maps, which served both as entertaining novelties and as subtly patriotic expressions within the broader culture of the British Isles.
Printed in vibrant chromolithography, the sheet exemplifies the technical skill of London’s leading lithographic houses during the height of the Victorian print trade. Though playful in tone, it preserves a surprising amount of geographic detail, making it as engaging for the map enthusiast as for the collector of pictorial or satirical cartography. Today the Scotland sheet remains one of the most visually striking images from the series, prized for its bold color, imaginative composition, and evocative rendering of national character.
William Henry Harvey was a London publisher active in the mid to late 19th century, best remembered for issuing the whimsical anthropomorphic map series Geographical Fun in 1868. Operating during the height of Britain’s chromolithographic boom, Harvey specialized in illustrated and novelty works that blended education, humor, and decorative appeal, capitalizing on growing Victorian demand for visually engaging printed material. The maps were printed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son, one of the leading chromolithographic firms in London, whose technical skill in color lithography gave the series its vivid palette and fine finish. Harvey’s role was primarily that of publisher and marketer, bringing the designs to market in an attractive folio format aimed at both educational and parlor display audiences during the high tide of British imperial self-confidence.
PUBLICATION DATE: 1868
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: England
BODY OF WATER: English Channel, St. Georges Channel
CONDITION: Good.
A bit wavy and a bit age toned, particularly at edges. Trace of prior hinges on the verso.
COLORING: Lithograph
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 8
" x
10 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION:
PRICE: $300
ADD TO CART
|