Map of North America, d.1850

John Tallis (1817-1876) was a British map publisher. Born in the Midlands, Tallis came to London in the 1840s. Tallis began his London career with a series of remarkable London street views. Tallis was one of the last great decorative map makers. His maps are prized for the wonderful vignettes of indigenous scenes, people, and more that they often show.

The map includes numerous decorative vignettes from all over the continent, as well as Europe and Asia. These include views of Esquimaux, Mount Hekla (in Iceland), beavers, Niagara Falls, a convoy of diamonds in South America, and ancient monuments in Mexico, North American Indians, Wapiti Deer, and Russian Cossacks, all in the same image.

Despite the late date of publication of this map, the American West is barely recognizable. "Upper California" stretches eastwards to the Rocky Mountains, as does Oregon. The Missouri Territory, Nebraska, and the Western Territories form most of the remaining Midwest east of Minnesota. New Mexico comprises the Texas Panhandle. Alaska is well-defined but named Russian America (it would not be transferred until 1867).