1885 Monteith Chromolithograph Map of the World in Hemispheres

This is a c. 1885 James Monteith map of the world in hemispheres. Printed on two sheets, captions under both hemispheres state that they were 'photographed from a globe.' Each hemisphere appears on its own sheet and, and major mountain ranges, lakes, and rivers are visible. Ethnographic pictorial borders, complete with stereotypical views, adorn both sheets. Portraits of a North American Indian, and Esquimaux, a Sandwich Islander, and a South American Indian surround the Western Hemisphere, and purportedly depict these peoples in characteristic scenes. The North American Indian, sitting in front of their tepee, is accompanied by a sketch of an American bison. At the same time, a polar bear on sea ice overlooks the Esquimaux standing in front of their igloo. The portraits of the Sandwich Islander and the South American Indian focus on the tropical vegetation of their native lands. Portraits of a Caucasian, a Mongol, a Malay, and an Ethiopian surround the Eastern Hemisphere. A European thoroughfare accompanies the Caucasian, while the same sort of view of an Asian city acts as the backdrop for the Mongol. Landscapes, much like those on the Western Hemisphere sheet, are presented with the Malay and the Ethiopian and depict these people in purportedly natural settings.

Chromolithography

Chromolithography is a color lithographic technique developed in the mid-19th century. The process involved using multiple lithographic stones, one for each color, to yield a rich composite effect. Frequently, the process would start with a black basecoat upon which subsequent colors were layered. Some chromolithographs used 30 or more separate lithographic stones to achieve the desired effect. Chromolithograph color could also be effectively blended for even more dramatic results. The process became extremely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it emerged as the dominant method of color printing. The vivid color chromolithography produced made it exceptionally effective for advertising and propaganda imagery.