S. Highley | Hand-Drawn Manuscript Atlas of Modern and Ancient Geography | 1842

Details

Description

A remarkable manuscript atlas titled simply Maps and Inscribed "S. Highley" and “Sept. 1842.” Every map has been drawn and … Read more A remarkable manuscript atlas titled simply Maps and Inscribed "S. Highley" and “Sept. 1842.” Every map has been drawn and colored by hand, including its lettering, ruled borders, and decorative title panels. The finished sheets show an assured command of cartographic detail, with delicately colored boundaries and finely rendered place names and terrain.

The surviving group ranges from Europe, England, Ireland, France, Spain, the Rhine, Scandinavia, Denmark, the Mediterranean, and India to classical and biblical subjects such as Orbis Veteribus Notus, Hispania Antiqua, Africa Antiqua, and Palaestina. A circular hemispherical double-map study adds to the range. Several sheets carry the maker’s name or “S. Highley fecit”; some retain penciled assessments and corrections that appear to record the atlas’s educational use.
The unfinished maps, including several of the United States, preserve the maker’s working process alongside the completed plates.

DETAILS
- Maker: Signed S. Highley; the maker’s full identity has not been established.
- Date: Title leaf dated September 1842; at least one map separately dated 1842.
- Contents: 22 maps by our count— 15 completed, and 7 unfinished-plus the manuscript title.
- Technique: Original hand-drawn and hand-colored maps on paper; lettering, borders, and title panels also executed by hand.
- Size: Approximately 8½" × 10¼" per leaf
- Condition: Completely disbound. Most leaves show age-related surface soil and handling wear; there are creases, edge wear, and some marginal water staining near the lower edges. Penciled marks and corrections remain. Please examine the photographs for the condition of individual leaves. Offered together, as found.

ADDITIONAL RESEARCH / ATTRIBUTION NOTE
A London map/book publisher S. Highley appears in a contemporary atlas imprint. Samuel John Highley was an adult publisher in 1842. His son Samuel Highley (born 1826) would have been sixteen that September, making him a plausible but unproven candidate. The inscription alone does not identify either person; the sale listing intentionally states only “S. Highley.”

Please note: Pencil marks support an educational context, but the hand, institution, and precise grading scheme are unverified. No original table of contents or binding is included.

***Please Note: The listing photographs are intended to showcase the artwork and overall presentation. Images may not accurately represent the item's actual physical dimensions, so please refer to the measurements provided in the listing description.

All framed pieces are professionally matted with equal-width matting on all four sides, and the artwork is centered within the mat opening. Variations in photography, lighting, and display formatting may make the proportions appear different than they are in person.

If you would like additional photographs, close-up details, or images showing the item alongside a ruler or in a room setting for scale, please send us a message before purchasing. We are always happy to provide additional photos and answer any questions to ensure you are completely confident in your purchase. See less