Persia and Arabia (Map)
Cartographic print, likely an engraving or lithograph page from a geographical atlas • Likely published by J.H. Colton, A. & C. Black, or S.A. Mitchell (prominent 19th-century map publishers)
Style & Movement
Victorian Era Cartography / Academic Realism
Medium & Technique
Hand-colored engraving or lithograph on woven paper with hand-applied watercolor washes to delineate territorial borders
Creation Period
Mid-19th Century (circa 1850-1860)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 12 x 15 inches; landscape format
Subject Description
A political and geographical map of the Middle East, showing Persia (Iran), Arabia, and parts of the Ottoman Empire. The composition includes detailed coastal hachuring, topographic desert markers, and highlighted borders separating various regional territories and tribal desert areas.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; visible age-toning, localized foxing, and a significant shadow/obscuration in the top-left corner of the image
Estimated Market Value
$100 - $250 USD
Auction Estimate
$75 - $150 USD
Provenance History
Likely extracted from a bound world atlas or geographical gazetteer; standard retail/private collection lineage for antique maps
Art Historical Significance
Represents the standard of 19th-century Western geographical knowledge of the Middle East during the 'Great Game' era, reflecting colonial-era borders and nomenclature often used in British and American educational materials.
Notable Features
Distinctive decorative typography for 'PERSIA & ARABIA' and hand-colored border outlines characteristic of mid-1800s steel-plate engraving production.
Condition Issues
Visible yellowing of paper (acidic browning), minor foxing (brown spots), and potential center-fold wear typical of atlas-bound plates.
Conservation Recommendations
Mount using acid-free, archival materials; protect behind UV-filtering glass; house in a climate-controlled environment with low humidity to prevent further foxing.