Copperplate

J. Rapkin : 2 items

Maps

J. Rapkin    British Colonies; their History, Extent, Condition and Resources c1851
£45
25.5 x 34.5cm


The Channel Islands - Jersey & Guernsey. This attractive map of Jersey and Guernsey, drawn and engraved by John Rapkin, is best known from it's appearance in Tallis's Illustrated Atlas of the World, published in 1851. In this work it has the addition of a number of vignettes engraved in the blank sea areas. Tallis also used some of the atlas maps for another publication - British Colonies; their History, Extent, Condition, and Resources - published under the imprint of the London Printing and Publishing Company, also in 1851. This example is from this second work and lacks the vignettes - less attractive perhaps, but much the less common of the two states.
Ref: ISL 003
 

Town Plans

J. Rapkin    Publication not known. c1851-60
£45
30.5 x 25cm


Bradford. John Tallis set up as a London publisher in 1842, in partnership with Frederick Tallis (possibly his brother). During the next 7 years the company published a number of very decorative town plans, including that of Bradford. After the parnership was dissolved in 1849, the rights (and presumably the printing plates) to many of the firm's works, were acquired in 1850 by The London Printing and Publishing Company, who continued to publish them through the 1850's. Tallis re-established himself in business and went on to produce his lavish Illustrated Atlas of the World in 1851, which included a number of town and city plans, but not those for which the rights had previously been sold. This example of the town plan of Bradford was drawn and engraved on steel by John Rapkin, with the vignettes being drawb and engraved by J. Winkles. It bears the imprint of the London Printing and Publishing Company and would have been issued from c1851-1860.
Ref: TWN 188