antique Georgian “A Map or Chart of the Road of Love and Harbour of Marriage”, published in 1794 by Laurie & Whittle, London

Description

“A Map or Chart of the Road of Love and Harbour of Marriage”. Published 12th May 1794 by Laurie & Whittle, 53 Fleet Street, London. Engraved and hand-coloured Georgian fantasy matrimony / marriage map, containing Directions for Sailing into Felicity Harbour.

“Directions for Sailing into Felicity Harbour. Fair Virture must your Pilot be; Your Compass, Prudence, Peace your Sea; Your Anchor, Hope your Stoage Love; (To your True Course still constant prove) Your Ballast, Sense, and Reason pure, Must ever be your Cynosure.”

“A MAP or CHART of the ROAD of LOVE, and HARBOUR of MARRIAGE. Laid down from the latest and best Authorites & regulated by my own Observations; The whole adjusted to the Latitude 51°30 N by T.P. Hydrographer; to his Majesty Hymen, and Prince Cupid. NB The Long. is recon’d from ye Meridian of Teens.”

“From the Sea of common Life, we enter the Road of Love thro Blindman’s Straits, between two noted Capes or Headlands, steering first for Money, Lust, and sometimes Virtue, but many Vessels endeavouring to make the latter are lost in the Whirlpool of Beauty; from this Road are many Outlets, yet some Mariners neither steer through these, nor continue their Voyage but come to their Moorings at Fastasleep Creek. Those who proceed reach Cape Ceremony, pass in the Harbour of Marriage through Fruition Straits, and touch at Cape Ecstasy; care must be taken to keep still to the Starboard, lest we run upon sunken rocks which lye about Cape Repentance; a good Pilot will also keep clear of the Rocks of Jealousy & Cuckoldom Bay and at least get into that of Content; some have past pleasant Straits and arrived safe at Felicity Harbour; a Monsoon constantly blows from Fruition Straits quite up the Road, which renders a Passage back impracticable; a Tornado also arises sooner or later in these Parts and drives all Shipping tho moor’d at Content & even Felicity itself, thro the Gulf of Death, the only Outlet, terminating in the Lake of Rest.”

Matrimonial maps are spoof maps first known from 18th century England, and became common in 19th century Europe. They depicted states of emotion and stages in relations as mock locations and geographical features in amusing maps, sometimes as detailed as genuine. This map published in London by Laurie & Whittle represents one of the earlier examples, engraved and hand-coloured, and complete with elaborate detail and witty rhymed advise for travellers.

Laurie & Whittle was a British publisher of maps, atlases and prints, founded by Robert Laurie and James Whittle.

This poster is a high quality “giclee” reproduction of a restored antique original, custom-printed on Standard Single-weight Matt Coated art paper 140gsm or  Heavyweight Matt Coated art paper 230gsm (more of a thin card density), or superb Epson Matt Canvas 320gsm, according to your choice. We use the latest UltraChromeHDX pigment inks which guarantee 60 years of colour  permanence (up to 200 years fade-proof for colour prints).  This poster is suitable for mounting and framing, as well as direct display on a wall.

IMPORTANT: If you are going to frame this print we thoroughly recommend art paper 230gsm or canvas 320gsm. The 140gsm art paper option makes sense if you wish to DIY-frame or to tack the poster to a wall without framing, due to it being lighter and more flexible. All three options are giclee prints of the same high quality.

POSTER PRINT QUALITY

Please note that our reproduction posters are made to order and every print is checked before posting. The images we use in most cases are scans of antique originals, professionally restored in order to remove the most evident stains, folds, tears and other damage. We strive to balance the restoration and saving the overall integrity and antique appearance of the original. Our restored images are unique and these prints can be purchased only from www.VictorianMaps.com.

There will be no watermark on your image but there might be a white border depending on aspect ratio of the original. Please note that when a large antique original is reduced to a smaller size print some text may not be readable. Please check our measurements: every poster has its own aspect ratio same as original and printed exactly as pictured.