| | Thumbnail | | Creator | Date | Title / Author / Date / Location | Price | | | Description |
| 8086 |  | Details | Harvey, William Henry | 1868 |
| England as Britannia Pictorial Map from Geographical Fun |
|
Harvey, William Henry |
|
| 1868 |
| LOC:7 |
| $300.00 | Harvey--William-Henry | England-as-Britannia--Pictorial-Map-from-Geographical-Fun | This striking anthropomorphic map of England presents the nation as a crowned female figure seated across the geographic outline of the country, a vivid example of 19th-century allegorical cartography from the celebrated 1868 series Geographical Fun, published in London by William Henry Harvey and lithographed by Vincent Brooks, Day & Son. England is personified as a regal woman wearing a crested helmet and holding a trident-like scepter, her shield emblazoned with the Union flag. Key regions - from the Scottish border to the English Channel - are integrated into her form, blending geography and symbolism. The surrounding seas are labeled, and ins et vignettes, including a naval scene, reinforce England’s maritime identity and imperial reach.<br><br>
Such allegorical maps became especially popular in the Victorian period, when Britain stood at the height of its global influence. The female figure evokes Britannia, the long-standing emblem of British power, naval supremacy, and imperial authority. The inclusion of heraldic devices and martial attributes underscores themes of strength, unity, and dominion.<br><br>
As a collectible object, this map appeals both to cartographic enthusiasts and to collectors of British imperial ephemera. It bridges geography, political symbolism, and popular art, illustrating how maps could function as cultural statements as much as spatial representations. Allegorical maps of this type are increasingly sought after for their visual charm, historical resonance, and their embodiment of Victorian self-image at a moment when England perceived itself as ruling both land and sea. |
| 8087 |  | Details | Harvey, William Henry | 1868 |
| Anthropomorphic map of Scotland |
|
Harvey, William Henry |
|
| 1868 |
| LOC:7 |
| $300.00 | Harvey--William-Henry | Anthropomorphic-map-of-Scotland | 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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
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. |