1892 Rand McNally Map of Ontario, Canada
Description: This is a beautiful example of Rand McNally and Company's 1892 map of Ontario, Canada. Centered on Lake Ontario, the map covers Upper or West Canada from essex to Prescott. Four inset maps in the lower right quadrant detail the western portion of Ontario, River St. Mary, Toronto and Ottawa. Both the electoral counties and the municipal counties are named in black and red respectively. All five of the Great Lakes are shown. Although the region suffered economically during the recession of 1893, Ontario continued to flourish in mineral exploitation and industry. Color coded according to political boundaries, the map notes several towns, cities, rivers and various other topographical details with relief shown by hachure. This map was issued as plate nos. 214 and 215 in the 1895 issue of Rand McNally and Company's Indexed Atlas of the World - possibly the finest atlas Rand McNally ever issued.
Date: 1892 (dated)
Source: Rand McNally & Co., Foreign Countries. Rand, McNally & Co's Indexed Atlas of the World (Complete in Two Volumes)…, (Chicago) 1895.
References: Rumsey 3565.060 (1897 edition). Philip (atlases) 1026 (1898 edition).
Cartographer: Rand McNally (fl. 1856 - present) is an American publisher of maps, atlases and globes. The company was founded in 1856 when William H. Rand, a native of Quincy, Massachusetts, opened a print shop in Chicago. Rand hired the recent Irish immigrant Andrew McNally to assist in the shop giving him a wage of 9 USD per week. The duo landed several important contracts, including the Tribune's (later renamed the Chicago Tribune) printing operation. In 1872 Rand McNally produced its first map, a railroad guide, using new cost effective printing technique known as wax process engraving. As the Chicago developed as a railway hub the Rand firm, now incorporated as Rand McNally, began producing a wide array of maps and guides. Over time the firm expanded into atlases, globes, education books, and general literature. By embracing the cost effective wax engraving process Rand McNally was able to dominate the map and atlas market, pushing more traditional American lithographic publishers like Colton, Johnson, and Mitchell out of business. Eventually Rand McNally opened an annex office in New York City headed by Caleb S. Hammond, whose name is today synonymous with maps and atlases, and who later started his own map company, C. S. Hammond & Co. Both firms remain in business. Click here for a list of rare maps by Rand McNally.
Size: Printed area measures 27 x 20 inches (68.58 x 50.8 centimeters)
Scale: 1 : 1130000
Condition: Very good. Minor wear along original centerfold. Text on verso.
Code: Ontario-randmcnally-1895 (to order by phone call: 646-320-8650)