Detail View: David Rumsey Historical Map Collection: Chart of the Arctic coast.

Arrowsmith, John, 1790-1873

Rae, John, 1813-1893

1851

Chart of the Arctic coast.

Arrowsmith, John, 1790-1873

London

Atlas Map

32

72

1,280,000

Map representing the Southern part of the Arctic Archipelago, also known as Nunavat and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Shows cities, topography, bodies of water, drainage, coastlines, and islands. Relief shown with hachures. Includes a legend, historical text, expedition routes, as well as latitudinal and longitudinal lines. Hand-colored engraving. Map is 32 x 72 cm, on fold-out sheet 56 x 80 cm.

Arctic Archipelago (Nunavut and N.W.T.)

Exploration

Chart of the Arctic coast, examined by Rae in Spring & Summer 1851. London, Pubd. June 10th 1852 by John Arrowsmith 10 Soho Square. J. Arrowsmith.

14506.101

101

Arrowsmith, John, 1790-1873

Arrowsmith, John, 1790-1873

1858

The London atlas of universal geography, exhibiting the physical & political divisions of the various countries of the world, constructed from original materials. Is most respectfully dedicated to his venerable friends John Middleton Esqr. as a testimony of gratitude and esteem, by his much obliged & humble servant, John Arrowsmith, F.R.G.S. & R.A.S. 10, Soho Square, London. London, pubd. by J. Arrowsmith, 10 Soho Square, 1858.

The London atlas of universal geography. Bound in black leather with gilt title, border, and spine title. Published by John Arrowsmith in London, 1858. In total, atlas includes 121 maps. Maps feature political boundaries, topography, cities, railways, roads, bodies of water, drainage, shorelines, coastlines, and islands. Printed primarily as hand-colored engravings, with two maps in black and white. All but one of the maps in this atlas were published by John Arrowsmith. The map of Mauritius was engraved in Edinburgh by W.H. Lizars. It is quite rare, and may be a unique survival. Examples of The London atlas of universal geography with a title page dated after 1842 are extremely rare. Most later examples have a title page date of 1842, with a list of 50 maps, often supplemented by additional maps. The Arrowsmiths were a cartographic dynasty which operated from the late-eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century. The family business was founded by Aaron Arrowsmith (1750-1823), who was renowned for carefully prepared and meticulously updated maps, globes, and charts. He created many maps that covered multiple sheets and which were massive in total size. His spare yet exacting style was recognized around the world and mapmakers from other countries, especially the young country of the United States, sought his maps and charts as exemplars for their own work. Aaron Arrowsmith was born in County Durham in 1750. He came to London for work around 1770, where he found employment as a surveyor for the city’s mapmakers. By 1790, he had set up his own shop which specialized in general charts. Arrowsmith worked in five locations during his career, which were primarily located on or near Soho Square, a neighborhood which included the naturalist Joseph Banks, and hydrographer Matthew Flinders. Through his business ties and employment at the Hydrographic Office, Arrowsmith made other important relationships with Alexander Dalrymple, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and others entities. In 1810 he became Hydrographer to the Prince of Wales and, in 1820, Hydrographer to the King. Aaron Arrowsmith died in 1823, whereby the business and title of Hydrographer to the King passed to his sons, Aaron and Samuel, and later to his nephew, John Aaron Jr. (1802-1854), who was a founding member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). Samuel and John Aaron Jr. worked as partners in the business and they traded together until John Aaron Jr. left the family business in 1832 and enrolled at Oxford to become a minister. Samuel died at age 34 in 1839; his brother presided over his funeral. The remaining stock and copper plates were bought at auction by John Arrowsmith, their cousin. John Arrowsmith (1790-1873) operated his own independent business after his uncle passed away. After 1839, John moved into the Soho location of his uncle and cousins. John enjoyed considerable recognition in the geography and exploration community, and carried the title Hydrographer to Queen Victoria. Like Aaron Jr., John was a founding member of the RGS and would serve as its unofficial cartographer for 43 years. Several geographical features in Australia and Canada are named after him. He died in 1873 and the majority of his stock was eventually bought by Edward Stanford, who co-founded Stanford’s map shop, which is still open today in Covent Garden, London. ⁃ Historical notes courtesy Barry Lawrence Ruderman

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World Atlas

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Arrowsmith, John, 1790-1873; Rae, John, 1813-1893