Historic Map : Dufour Map of South America, 1860, Vintage Wall Art

This is a beautiful 1860 elephant folio map of South America by A. H. Dufour. It covers the entire continent from Panama to Tierra del Fuego. Depicts the continent in impressive detail – especially the interior, which at the time was largely unknown. Shows Bolivia with an outlet to the Sea. Throughout, the map identifies various cities, towns, rivers and assortment of additional topographical details. A view of equatorial zone of the Andes between 0-20 degrees, based on Humboldt, is included in the lower left quadrant.

Much of South America was, at this time, embroiled in or about to become embroiled in, severe civil strife. The new nations, freed from Spanish dominance though various wars of liberation in the previous decades, were struggling with their newfound independence in an attempt create stable and prosperous governments. Most would dissolve into civil war between 1858 and 1864.

This map was prepared by Auguste-Henri Dufour and engraved by Charles Dyonette for publication plate no. 38 in Armand Le Chevalier's 1860 edition of Atlas Universel, Physique, Historique et Politique de Geographie Ancienne et Moderne.