Collins' Standard Map of London

An interesting, mid-Victorian lithographed map of London extending from Stoke Newington in the North to Battersea park in the South, and from Notting Hill in the West to the West India Docks in the East, with contemporary hand-colouring highlighting London's parks in green, the Thames in blue, and railway stations in purple, lacking most of the original 23-page index listing principle places of interest.

Stanford (1827-1904) acquired the rights to the design after the original publisher, Henry George Collins, became bankrupt in 1857. This edition of 1873 shows a railway line under construction which would have run from South Kensington to the Royal Albert Hall. This was never completed as intended, with the tunnel instead forming the pedestrian subway which runs from the underground stop to Exhibition Road.

Lithographed map of London (67 x 87 cm), dissected into 32 parts and laid onto linen as issued, contemporary hand-colouring, folding with yellow typographic endpaper into original black cloth case, publisher's label to upper cover, map slightly toned, minor loss to the centre around Holborn, spine of case a little frayed, otherwise very good.

Hyde 56(12).