The World at the Time of Christ, Antique Hand-Colored Map, 1823

This is an original antique copper engraved map with original hand coloring, published in 1823 as plate XXVI of James Wyld's Geographia Sacra, or Scripture Atlas. The engraved title reads "THE WORLD, as known at the time OF CHRISTS appearing upon EARTH." The title is engraved in a pink panel at the upper right of the map.

The map shows the Old World from the Atlantic Ocean to India and Serica, with Europe washed in pink, Asia in yellow and Africa in green. Scandinavia, Germania, Sarmatia and Scythia are lettered across the north, Arabia, Persia and India in the south of Asia, and Libya and "ÆTHIOPIA INTERIOR" across Africa, with Ophir marked on the east African coast near the bottom. The Arctic Circle, the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator are drawn across the sheet, and the lower border is marked in longitude east from London. Below the title a key explains the line for the limits of the Roman Empire and that modern names are underlined, as Black Sea, and an engraved note discusses how far south the knowledge of the ancients extended on the African coast.

Below the lower border the credit J. Wyld del. is engraved at the left and G. Neele Sculp. at the right, with the imprint between them: "Publish'd by G. & W. B. Whittaker 13 Ave Maria Lane April 1823." The plate number is engraved as XXVI. in the left margin, turned with the sheet.

The atlas was published by G. and W. B. Whittaker in London, and its engraved title page names Wyld as "of the Quarter Master General's Office, Horse Guards". James Wyld the elder (1790 to 1836) was a London geographer and map publisher.

Light uneven toning, browner toward the edges. Marked handling soiling along the left, right and top edges. Foxing over much of the margin. A brown stain at the left edge of the printed area. All four corners are present.

This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.