{"product_id":"old-pictorial-map-of-australia-by-spilhaus-1929-captain-cook-1770-canberra-1927-sydney-melbourne-perth","title":"Large Pictorial Map of Australia by Spilhaus, 1929: Captain Cook 1770, Canberra 1927, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth","description":"\u003cp\u003eMargaret Whiting Spilhaus’s 1929 Australia is a richly imagined pictorial atlas in a single view—part storytelling, part geography, and wholly captivating. Trained as an author and historian of exploration, Spilhaus orchestrates a scene where indigenous wildlife and emblems of discovery share the stage. At its heart, an elaborate cartouche dramatizes Captain James Cook’s arrival, the pivotal 1770 moment that reshaped the continent’s global trajectory. Decorative borders studded with square‑rigged vessels and intertwined fish set a maritime cadence, while a lower cartouche bearing the seal of Australia anchors the composition in national identity. Vivid color, ornate ornament, and densely packed vignettes turn coastlines and interior alike into a living panorama of journeys, encounters, and the evolving idea of Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map’s narrative moves from ocean margins to inland routes, charting the momentum of colonial expansion and the infrastructure that followed. Historic ships drift along the Pacific and Southern Ocean, their sails echoing the era when sea power decided destinies. On land, trains and early settlements knit the southeast into a coherent corridor of movement, a visual shorthand for federation’s promise. Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo, and Wollongong appear as a constellation of urban energy, balanced by Adelaide and Perth on the western and southern rims. The inscription “Canberra, May 1927” memorializes the youthful capital’s establishment, signaling administrative consolidation after 1901 and the reorientation of political life inward from the coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpilhaus tempers these colonial motifs with an exuberant celebration of Australia’s natural world. Kangaroos bound across inland tracts; birds wheel above bays and capes; and marine life scrolls along the border, binding sea to shore. The Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean, named and ornamented, frame the continent as both island and arch of trade. Tasmania’s Hobart and Launceston anchor a cooler, southern vignette, while tropical Cairns and Townsville, and the northern gateway of Darwin, imply climatic contrasts and maritime ties. Inland, Alice Springs and Mount Isa signal the stubbornness and allure of the interior. In Spilhaus’s hands, wildlife is cartographic language—icons that mark habitat, hint at resources, and remind viewers that geography is ecological before it is political.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically, the work compresses a century‑and‑a‑half of upheaval into a single, intelligible tableau. The Cook cartouche crystallizes the imperial claim of 1770, the act that set in motion exploration, surveying, and the ship‑to‑settlement chain visible along the coasts. By also inscribing “Canberra, May 1927,” Spilhaus links maritime discovery to the administrative maturity of the Commonwealth, tracing a narrative arc from sail to statute. Issued in 1929, the map speaks from an interwar vantage—confident, modern, and forward‑looking—yet alive to the layered past beneath new railways and ports. Its interplay of iconography invites reflection on the complexities of colonization and nation‑building, even as it celebrates the diversity of cultures and landscapes that define Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor collectors, this map stands at the confluence of cartography and art, a signature of the interwar pictorial tradition and of Spilhaus’s own cosmopolitan lens. Decorative borders of square‑rigged vessels, intertwined fish, and maritime flourishes surround a continent dense with stories: Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Hobart, and Canberra; the resource towns of Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Mackay; the coastal arc through Newcastle, the Gold Coast, and Geelong. The lower cartouche bearing Australia’s seal, set beneath the dramatic Cook scene above, creates a vertical meditation on authority—from claim to commonwealth. As a visual essay in exploration, settlement, and environment, this map rewards close study and commands pride of place in any collection of Australiana or maritime history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlaces on this map\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCanberra\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSydney\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdelaide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMelbourne\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePerth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrisbane\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHobart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTownsville\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDarwin\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlice Springs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGold Coast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCairns\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNewcastle\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLaunceston\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWollongong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBendigo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMackay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeelong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRockhampton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMount Isa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotable Features \u0026amp; Landmarks\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElaborate cartouche depicting Captain James Cook's arrival.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrations of indigenous Australian wildlife, such as kangaroos and birds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eArtistic representations of colonial explorers and historic ships.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDecorative borders featuring square-rigged vessels and intertwined fish.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA lower cartouche showcasing the seal of Australia.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNotable scenes of exploration, including trains and early Australian settlements.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual motifs related to the Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCultural depictions that reflect Australia’s diverse history and heritage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorical and design context\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLavishly illustrated with a vibrant color palette and ornate decorations.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map combines natural and colonial narratives, emphasizing indigenous wildlife and symbols of exploration and colonization.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrations include trains, explorers, ships, and historical figures, detailing both geography and cultural heritage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map illustrates Captain James Cook's claiming of Australia in 1770, marking an important colonial milestone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe inclusion of 'Canberra, May 1927' symbolizes the establishment of the Australian capital.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMargaret Whiting Spilhaus was a South African author and cartographer, recognized for her contributions to historical literature and children’s literature.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShe developed a series of pictorial maps, with this Australia map being a notable example.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 100in (250cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlease note: the labels on this map are hard to read if you order a map that is 20in (50cm) or smaller. The map is still very attractive, but if you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003ebest old maps\u003c\/a\u003e to see if something else catches your eye.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlease \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003econtact me\u003c\/a\u003e to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex\/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Map","offer_id":57969119527296,"sku":"UM00275086A","price":66.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":57969119560064,"sku":"UM00275087A","price":148.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"16x20in (40x50cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":57969119592832,"sku":"UM00275088A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Map","offer_id":57969119625600,"sku":"UM00275089A","price":77.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":57969119658368,"sku":"UM00275090A","price":169.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"18x24in (45x60cm) \/ Framed canvas 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