A FIRST STATE example of James Wyld’s important map of Australia. James Wyld (1812-1887) was the son of James Wyld who had been an apprentice to William Faden, became Geographer to His Majesty George IV and later William IV. He was a founder member of the Royal Geographic Society. He introduced lithography into mapmaking in 1812. His son of the same name became geographer to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Wyld’s map of Australia was issued in numerous regular editions, each with the very latest information depicted. Tooley’s alphabetical list of the maps of Australia did not even list this first state, the earliest he recorded was dated 1837. The printed maps of Tasmania however did record it. The first edition as illustrated here bore no divisions of counties in Tasmania, or Western Australia. The following year 1837 another issue was published with these additions. Reference is made in the title to Wyld being the geographer to the King. It was in 1837 that Queen Victoria ascended the throne.

By 1836 the coastline of Australia was well defined, however much of the interior remained unknown. Here Victoria is still part of New South Wales. It records the new settlement on the Swan River in Western Australia. A fascinating map Australia from the important James Wyld map sequence featuring discoveries from recent expeditions into the interior. Clancy (1995) pp. 154 & 159; National Library of Australia, Bib ID 209675; Smith (1991) ‘The Wyld Family Firm’, in ‘The Map Collector’ no 55 pp. 32-8; refer Tooley Australia no. 1374.