1841 Map of the Western Hemisphere
DESCRIPTION
This lovely hand colored map of the Western Hemisphere was published by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge or SDUK, an organization in the UK created with the mission of making knowledge available to a broader segment of society by publishing maps that were less expensive than many on the market at the time. The map depicts North America, South America, the West Indies and most of Polynesia, including New Zealand. The Antarctic continent, first sighted in 1820, but neglected during the first half of the 19th century, does not appear on the map.
The map notes towns, rivers, mountains, deserts, islands, and various other important topographical details. Elevation throughout is rendered by hachure. This depiction is a fascinating snapshot done during a period of rapid globalization and discovery. By this time the first Industrial Revolution had evolved into the second, when technological and economic progress continued along with the increasing adoption of steam transport in the form of steam-powered railways, boats and ships.
The large-scale manufacture of machine tools contributed to the increasing use of machinery in steam-powered factories, resulting in the production of myriad goods and products ready for trade at the international level.
CONDITION
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