A magnificent monument to late-Victorian cartography and imperial history: a monumental 1893 Elephant Folio Cosmographic Atlas of the World. Measuring a colossal 49 x 37 cm, this grand volume serves as an unmatched visual record of global borders, trade routes, and discoveries at the close of the 19th century.
 
The inner front board retains its original, highly intricate armorial bookplate for Sir Theodore Cracraft Hope, K.C.S.I., C.I.E. (1831–1915) reading "Theodoic Cracraft Hope de Boothes," it bears the iconic Clan Hope motto, "At Spes Infracta" (Yet Hope is Unbroken), with Theodoic being an ancient variant spelling of Theodore. As the Public Works Member of the Governor-General’s Council in India, Sir Theodore was personally responsible for orchestrating the massive expansion of the Indian Railway network from 8,000 to 14,000 miles. To own a world atlas that sat in the private collection of one of the empire's master infrastructure builders is an incomparable privilege.  
 
A Masterclass in Chromolithography:
Internally, this atlas is an absolute triumph. It remains 100% complete, preserving its full array of massive, double-page maps printed premium paper stock. The maps are rendered in breathtaking, vibrant multi-colour lithography, detailing ocean currents, political boundaries, deep continental exploration lines, and the emerging telegraph and rail lines of the world and of particular interest, the cosmological spreads.
 
Specifications:
Date: 1893.
 
Format: Elephant Folio 49 cm x 37 cm (approximately 19" x 15").
 
Provenance: Armorial bookplate of Sir Theodore Cracraft Hope (KCSI, CIE).
 
Completeness: 100% complete map sequence and index.
 
Condition Report:
Internally, the volume is spectacular. The heavy paper maps are remarkably clean, flat, and bright, completely escaping the severe foxing, water staining, or edge-tearing common to books of this scale. The original leather publisher's binding shows typical wear for an elephant folio of this mass: the outer cloth boards are currently loosely attached to the inner text block and the spine leather shows rubbing and drying. It remains an ideal candidate for a simple, straightforward re-backing by a professional conservator, or can be proudly displayed flat exactly as it sits.
 
Large-format Victorian atlases are routinely broken up by print sellers to harvest individual maps for framing. Retaining this volume completely intact, paired with the airtight personal provenance of one of Britain's most celebrated Victorian colonial geographers, makes this an investment-grade cornerstone for any serious private library or maritime collection.