New South Wales — Wall Map by John Tallis (1851)
Fine linework, an ornamental border, and the quiet drama of a colony coming into focus—this 1851 John Tallis & Co. classic gathers New South Wales into a single, beautifully engraved portrait. Coastline, rivers and districts settle into view with Victorian poise, while Tallis’s period artistry lends the piece a decorative presence that reads as both history and heirloom. Part chart, part showcase, it brings mid-nineteenth-century NSW to your wall—elegant, precise, unmistakably Tallis.
Why it captivates
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Victorian-era clarity from one of the century’s most admired commercial map publishers.
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Engraved detail and refined typography that reward both room-length viewing and close study.
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A statement piece that blends scholarship with decorative charm.
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Part of Tallis’s celebrated series covering the Australian colonies/states.
What you’ll see
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New South Wales in fine engraved detail: coastline, rivers, districts and principal towns.
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Period cartouche and ornamental border characteristic of Tallis’s mid-century house style.
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Balanced type hierarchy that keeps names legible without crowding the geography.
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A composition that rewards lingering—each glance reveals another river bend, district line or township.
A richer historical frame
Issued in 1851, this Tallis sheet sits at a pivotal moment for New South Wales—when survey, settlement and commerce were knitting the colony into a recognisable whole. Tallis’s London studio distilled official sources into plates prized as much for their engraver’s grace as for their geographic truth. Today, the map stands as a cultural artefact: evidence arranged with care, ready for display.
Choose your finish
Heavyweight Paper (160 gsm matte)
Best for: framing under glass in studies and living spaces
Look & feel: non-glare matte that preserves engraved linework and small labels
Laminated (true encapsulation)
Best for: classrooms, libraries, offices and shared spaces
Build: sealed edge-to-edge between two 80-micron gloss sheets
Benefit: wipe-clean, durable, moisture-resistant
Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)
What you get: encapsulated print plus natural lacquered timber rails top & bottom with a discreet hanging cord
Where it shines: foyers, schools, councils—polished look with everyday toughness
Install: arrives ready to hang (just add a wall hook)
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for professional rail mounting
Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)
Best for: premium interiors, galleries and boardrooms
Print system: pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for long display life
Presence: textured surface adds warmth and museum-style depth
Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)
What you get: canvas fitted with natural timber rails top & bottom, matching cord
Where it shines: statement walls, curated heritage displays
Install: ready to hang; single-hook friendly
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for rail mounting
Sizes (W × H)
At-a-glance materials
Option |
Best for |
Key benefits |
Paper (160 gsm) |
Framing under glass |
Matte clarity; crisp engraving detail |
Laminated (encapsulated) |
Busy/shared spaces |
Wipeable; tough; edge-to-edge protection |
Laminated + Rails |
Ready-to-hang public display |
Professional mount; easy install; durable |
Canvas (395 gsm) |
Premium display |
Archival inks; textured depth; gallery appeal |
Canvas + Rails |
Gallery-ready feature |
Period-true presentation; simple hanging |
Styling ideas
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Heritage vignette: pair with a brass picture light and a small caption card noting family places.
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Council or library foyer: choose Laminated + Rails for a polished, robust display.
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Study or boardroom: canvas with rails above timber cabinetry for warm Victorian character.
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Collector’s wall: group with other Tallis Australia maps for a complete colonial set.
Specifications
Detail |
Description |
Title |
New South Wales — Wall Map by John Tallis |
Edition |
1851 |
Publisher |
John Tallis & Co. |
Region |
New South Wales |
Type |
Victorian engraved wall map |
Content Highlights |
Coastline; rivers; districts; principal towns; ornamental border; period cartouche |
Finishes |
Paper; Laminated (encapsulated); Laminated + Timber Rails; Canvas; Canvas + Timber Rails
|
Lead Time (Rails) |
Up to 10 working days (laminated or canvas with rails) |
Orientation |
Portrait |
Size |
436 × 592 mm (W × H) |
Production |
Made in Australia |
Who it’s for
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Collectors and historians of Victorian cartography
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Councils, libraries & museums curating NSW heritage
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Interior designers seeking refined nineteenth-century engraving with decorative presence
Claim your wall. Choose Paper for crisp, frame-ready clarity. Go Laminated + Timber Rails for tough, ready-to-hang polish. Step up to Archival Canvas + Timber Hang Rails for gallery weight. Made in Australia with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks. Built to last. Hang it. Live with it. Keep NSW close.