This rare plan of London is usually found bound at the front of selected examples of Tallis's "A Modern Illustrated Atlas". The inclusion of this intricate plan increased the price for the original atlas so fewer examples were printed, accounting for the map's relative rarity.

Both the atlas and the map were originally printed to coincide with the opening of the Great Exhibition of 1851. As such, it is just as much an example of artistic endeavour, with its collection of border vignettes, as of cartographic achievement. One of the map's most interesting features is that it extends much further into the undeveloped 'suburbs' of the city than most other maps of the period. To the north the map reaches Stoke Newington and Holloway. In the west we see the largely rural areas of Hammersmith, Kensal Green and Fulham. East of the city are Greenwich, Hackney, and the Isle of Dogs, while the rapidly developing suburbs of Brixton and Peckham form the boundary in the south.

Starting in the 1840s London experienced enormous, sprawling growth as the railways allowed wealthier employers and more successful workers to live further from their businesses where the air was cleaner and the newly-built accommodation was more spacious. This map was published in the early days of this explosive growth allowing us to see much of what is now considered "central" London still largely undeveloped fields.

This particular example is a folding map backed on its original linen and in its gilt, red leather booklet. The bright, original hand-colouring makes this a particularly fine example of this rare and desirable map of London.

Original hand-colour. [LDN6523]