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Edmund (or Edmond), Charles Thomson : Original Map - "A Map of the Tonga Islands"

Constable and Company, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1827

Original publisher's black and white engraved map of the Tonga islands. This is a beautiful map that includes brief notes on some of the islands and two keys that correspond to letters printed on the map. One note describes the islands of Kao and Tofua as follows: "These two Islands are famous for wood & for manufacture of mats. On Tofooa [Tofua] there is a small volcano." Another note says Fiji is 120 leagues to the northwest and has an arrow pointing in that direction. The keys correspond to points of interest on the map such as fortresses, districts, hills, a plantation, a sacred ground, and a salt-water lake. Map with margins measures 9 1/2" x 5 5/8"; actual map area measures 9 1/8" x 4 3/8." Map is very clean and intact but has slight foxing. There are two vertical fold lines, but these are original. Lines of latitude and longitude also included. "Hafooloo How" is used to name the island of Vava'u and its nearby islands. "Hapai Islands" are used to name the islands of Ha'ano, Foa, Lifuka, Uolevea, Uiha, Nomuka, and others. The islands of Late, Kao, Tofua, and 'Eua and the island of Tonga are also included. Interestingly, the map is turned ninety degrees counterclockwise from the traditional map position oriented north (longitudinal lines are labeled where lines of latitude would usually be). Specifically, while Ha'ano, Foa, Lifuka, and other islands in the "Hapai" archipelago remain in the center, they are turned ninety degrees counterclockwise with the rest of the map; Vava'u is shown to the west instead of north; Late, Kao and Tofoa are shown south instead of west; and 'Eua and the island of Tonga are shown east instead of south. At the bottom of the map below the boundary or neatline is the following: "Engraved for Constable's Miscellany by Chas. Thomson Edmd., 15th Sept. 1827." The Constable's Miscellany was a multivolume serial about literature, science, and the arts that was established by Archibald Constable (1774-1827), a Scottish bookseller and publisher. The map was engraved by Charles Thomson Edmund (or Edmund; his name is abbreviated Chas. Thomson. Edmd.).. Map. Book Condition: Collectible-Very Good. Binding: No Binding

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