World Mail and Passenger Routes to New Zealand, 1883
€ 610
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Date
1883
Mapmaker / artist
Edward Stanford (1827–1904)
Sheet size
53 × 74 cm (20.9 × 29.1 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14327-1
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Good antique condition overall. Original fold lines as issued. Minor toning, scattered foxing, and light age-related wear consistent with use. Hand-coloring remains attractive and fresh. Original cloth covers preserved.
About this sheet
Edward Stanford, Map of the World on Mercator's Projection Illustrating the Routes to and from New Zealand, Folding Map, c.1880
A rare and highly evocative Victorian emigrant and travel map issued by the celebrated London cartographer Edward Stanford, depicting the world on Mercator's projection with a particular emphasis on maritime connections to New Zealand. The map traces the principal mail and passenger routes linking Britain with the colonies, illustrating the expanding global network of steamship travel during the height of the British Empire.
The routes radiate from the British Isles across the Atlantic, through the Suez Canal, around the Cape of Good Hope, and across the Pacific, converging on New Zealand, which is highlighted in contemporary hand-color. Distance tables at the lower center provide practical information for emigrants, merchants, and travelers undertaking the long voyage to the Antipodes.
Issued as a portable folding map in its original publisher's cloth covers in 12mo format, this work reflects the enormous growth of migration and communication between Britain and New Zealand during the late nineteenth century. Edward Stanford, one of London's most influential map publishers, supplied maps to explorers, government departments, and travelers throughout the Victorian era.
The delicate original coloring, combined with the intricate network of global sea routes, gives the piece both historical importance and strong decorative appeal. It serves as an exceptional document of imperial mobility, colonial expansion, and the technological transformation of long-distance travel.
Medium: Engraving with original hand-coloring on paper
Format: Folding map, originally issued in publisher's cloth covers, 12mo
Dimensions: Open: approximately 53 x 74 cm (20.9 x 29.1 in.) Format: 12mo folding issue.
Presented unframed. Framed images are for inspiration only.
