India - Johnston c.1861 (Framed)

Keith Johnston’s Southern India & Ceylon (c. 1861) Title: India (Southern Sheet) Cartographer: Alexander Keith Johnston, F.R.S.E. Origin: Edinburgh & London Date: c. 1861 Technique: Steel engraving with original hand-colouring Presentation: Professionally matted and housed in a classic gold-trim wooden frame. The Jewel of the British Empire This map captures the Indian Subcontinent at the dawn of the British Raj. Following the transition from East India Company rule to the British Crown, there was an urgent need for precise, scientific surveying. Alexander Keith Johnston, the Geographer to the Queen, met this demand with this masterpiece of topographic detail. The map depicts the Southern Peninsula from the Malabar Coast to the Coromandel Coast, including a highly detailed rendering of Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It is a snapshot of an empire in its prime, documenting the early development of the Indian railway networks, military cantonments, and the vast administrative districts of the Madras Presidency. Chronicles of the Map The "Royal" Standard: As a map from the Royal Atlas, this represents the absolute peak of 19th-century British commercial cartography—known for its incredible density of information and legibility. South-Eastern Provinces Inset: A large, detailed inset in the lower-left corner focuses on the South Eastern Provinces of India, providing a specialized view of the coastal topography and river deltas. Mountain and River Relief: Using fine steel-hatching, Johnston captures the rugged terrain of the Western Ghats and the Nilgiri Hills with artistic precision. Original Hand-Colouring: The map features delicate, original wash-colouring used to distinguish the various British districts and the remaining independent Princely States.