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Description

A Rare English Wall Map of Asia

Rare separately issued map of Asia, published by Henry Overton.

The map includes inset map of the world in two hemispheres, and four engraved views of Brahmin priests performing self-sacrificing religious rituals.

At the far right, there is a view of Constantinople, view of Smyrna and three views of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The views are presumed to be derived from Herman Moll's map of the Turkish Empire.

The map is dated based upon the reign of Queen Caroline (October 1727 to November 1737).

The present example is the second state of the map, with the dedication to Caroline. The original diagram showing how to calculate distances has been replaced by the four inset vignettes.

The inset depictions of Brahmin include:

"A Bramin Chained to a tree with a resolution to finish his days in that manner."

"A Bramin out of devotion to ye God Eswara hangs for half an hour over a fire which he feeds with wood that laid at both sides."

"A Bramin that has made a Vow to wear a Collar of Iron 24 pound weight & 4 foot square he had received by Alms money enough to build and Hospital."

The geography and layout are closely reminiscent of a wall map of Asia of circa 1710, by Peter Schenk, titled Nova Totius Asiae Tabula. In that map Schenk similarly deployed a double hemisphere world map in the lower left corner surrounded by a decorative retinue. Schenk also included inset views, but in that they were positioned along the bottom border.

The map is of the utmost rarity. We find an example in a composite Overton atlas at the British Library. OCLC also notes a copy at Cambridge University, which lacks the set of views at the right side of the map. The Sophia University in Tokyo also holds a complete copy of the map with the views. The State Library of Queensland holds the only example of the first state which we could locate, which is dedicated to Queen Anne.

Condition Description
Laid on linen in recent times, likely to support what appears to be original color.
Henry Overton Biography

The Overton family was a prominent part of the printing, and mapmaking, industry in London in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. John Overton (1639/40-1713) was the son of a tailor who apprenticed to Stationer Thomas Gould. He was made free of the Stationers’ Company in 1663. Two years later, London was struck by the Great Plague of 1665-6. Peter Stent, a leading printseller, succumbed and Overton took over his shop. This burned in the Great Fire of 1666, but Overton had rebuilt by 1669, when he advertised his wares from the White Horse on Snow Hill. Overton specialized in prints, portraits, and especially maps and topographical views.

John was likely married three times and had seven children. His eldest, Thomas, emigrated to America. His second oldest, Henry, was executor of John’s will when the latter died in 1713. Henry (1675/6-1751) acquired his father’s stock in 1707 and ran the shop until his own death in 1751. He published many maps, most focusing on the British Isles. His shop and stock passed to his nephew, another Henry, son of John’s fourth son, James.

Henry the Elder’s brother, Philip (ca. 1681-1745), was also a printer and mapmaker. Philip served as his father’s apprentice and was made free of the Stationers’ in 1702. His father set him up in the trade in 1707 and by 1710 he was working from the sign of the Golden Buck in Fleet Street. Philip specialized in fine arts prints, including Hogarth’s Hudibras set (1726), but he also sold many maps. At his death in 1745 he left his shop to his widow, Mary. She ran the shop and then married James Sayer, whose brother, Robert, became Mary’s assistant. He took over the business in 1748 and became a famous purveyor of maps, charts, and views.

Back at the sign of the White Horse, Henry the Younger continued the family business, expanding their stock to include a large collection of landscape views. He often partnered with Robert Sayer. He continued in business until at least 1764, when he drops out of the historical record.