These two maps are part of an 1882 atlas published by Blackie and Son, a notable publishing company in the 19th century known for their educational books and detailed atlases. The maps represent the geographical understanding of India during the British Raj, with an impressive degree of detail and accuracy for the time.
The northern map includes the Himalayan frontier, with color-coded regions denoting various provinces and princely states such as Punjab, Kashmir, and Nepal. Each region is outlined with distinct colors like red and yellow, and the map is rich with place names, including cities, rivers, and mountain ranges. This part of the map also extends into Central Asia, indicating areas labeled as 'Turkestan,' reflecting the interest and influence of the British Empire in the region.
The southern map details the subcontinent from the central plains downward, incorporating the Deccan Plateau, the Eastern and Western Ghats, and extending to the southernmost point of the Indian peninsula. The island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, is prominently featured along with the coastal outlines and internal administrative boundaries. The Maldives and Lakshadweep archipelagos are also depicted, showcasing the expanse of British nautical knowledge.
Both maps display an overlay of longitude and latitude lines, indicative of their navigational utility. The legends and notations, written in English, provide information about the transportation routes, including railways, which were an essential aspect of colonial administration and economic activity at the time. These maps would have served as critical tools for travel, trade, and governance during the period of British colonial rule in India. The meticulous craftsmanship of these maps provides a window into the era's cartography and the geopolitical landscape as perceived by the British.
Bartele Gallery. Original antique maps, sea charts, engravings and works on paper. This is a plain text rendering of a page that is otherwise built in the browser. The catalogue index is at https://www.bartele.net/catalogue and machine readable notes are at https://www.bartele.net/llms.txt.