A pair of maps of the northern and southern hemispheres with several voyages of exploration shown, mostly by Captain James Cook. Drawn and engraved in 1815, the southern hemisphere map contains a very early complete depiction of the Australian coastline.

John Thomson was a highly successful commercial mapmaker in the early-19th century. He is cited, along with John Pinkerton, as one of the leading map makers of the Scottish Enlightenment. His New General Atlas was first issued in 1817 and then re-issued several times through the next twenty five years.

Unfortunately, Thomson's next project was less successful. In 1820, he embarked upon a new survey of Scotland and the first to be performed on a county by county basis. It was a much needed enterprise as it was only the second detailed survey of the country. However, the time, expense and lack of widespread commercial appeal for the project led to Thomson declaring bankruptcy in 1830. He was rescued by wealthy friends and acquaintances from this predicament; undeterred he continued with his Atlas of Scotland but he still faced the same hurdles and this led to another declaration of bankruptcy in 1835. Little is known about him after that date and he is believed to have died in 1840.

This map of the world was issued in his New General Atlas in two sheets, showing the northern and southern hemispheres. It takes full advantage of the momentous discoveries by English mariners of the late 18th century, showcasing the voyages of Cook, Vancouver, and the lesser-known Captain John Gore and Lieutenant Richard Pickersgill.

Geographically, the map is orthodox for the period, using current sources researched by Thomson's contemporaries. The overall shape of the continents is based on William Faden's double hemisphere map which was first issued in 1802, although Thomson does add greater detail, especially on the Pacific Northwest coast as a result to Vancouver's journey. The map does not add the information provided by Lewis and Clark, suggesting that the engraving dates of these maps was c.1814. This coincides with the publishing of Flinders's survey of Australia, which is shown on the map. In Africa, the Nile is shown as having two major sources in central Africa, in the mythical Mountains of the Moon. Asia again follows Faden with the exception of Japan, which is quite different to its parent map. Thomson differs both in the portrayal of the shape of the islands and the shape of Yesso.

Most intriguing of all, Thomson covers the unexplored Antarctic Regions with a hazy cloud, a stark visual reminder that nothing was yet known about this part of the Globe. Captain Cook's southernmost point is noted on the map, but no confirmed sighting of land had yet been achieved.

The printed image of each map measures appx. 20 x 21in. Original hand colour. Framed in custom-made circular frames. [WLD4738]