A beautiful 1855 first edition example of Colton's curious topical chart of the world's great islands and lakes.  Divided into lakes and islands of the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.  Curiously does not include Greenland  - who's northern limits had not been explored when this map was printed.  Colton does however include Laky Nyassi on the Sea - a large lake in Africa that was, at his point in history, still largely speculative with regard to its size and orientation.  Most today associate Colton's Nyassi with Lake Malawi.  Surrounded by Colton's typical spiral motif border.    Dated and copyrighted to J. H. Colton, 1855.  Published from Colton's 172 William Street Office in New York City.  Issued as page no. IV in volume 2 of the first edition of George Washington Colton's  1855   Atlas of the World .
<bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:J._H._Colton" class="extiw" title="w:en:J. H. Colton"><span title="United-States geographer and mapmaker">J. H. Colton</span></a>
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1855 (dated)
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