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Fine map of the region centered on the Caspian and Aral Seas, by James Wyld.
The following review of the map was given in Ocean highways: the geographical review, Volume 1, in 1874:
Those amongst our readers not familiar with the Russian alphabet will be glad to avail themselves of Kiepert's "Map of the Roads leading to Khiva,"* or of Wyld's "Map of Khiva and surrounding countries," though neither of these is equal to the first map by Captain Lusilin, referred to above. Kiepert's map extends from the shore of the Caspian to Khiva, and includes the whole of Lake Aral. It is a portion of that author's large map of Russia in Europe, with which Colonel Markozof's map and some other data have been embodied. Wyld's map embraces a much wider area, is neatly engraved and printed in colours, and will be found to answer the practical requirements of the general public, although incapable of bearing criticism at all exacting.
James Wyld Sr. (1790-1836) was a British cartographer and one of Europe’s leading mapmakers. He made many contributions to cartography, including the introduction of lithography into map printing in 1812.
William Faden, another celebrated cartographer, passed down his mapmaking business to Wyld in 1823. The quality and quantity of Faden’s maps, combined with Wyld’s considerable skill, brought Wyld great prestige.
Wyld was named geographer to Kings George IV and William IV, as well as HRH the Duke of York. In 1825, he was elected an Associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers. He was one of the founding members of the Royal Geographical Society in 1830. Also in 1830, his son, James Wyld Jr., took over his publishing house. Wyld Sr. died of overwork on October 14, 1836.
James Wyld Jr. (1812-87) was a renowned cartographer in his own right and he successfully carried on his father’s business. He gained the title of Geographer to the Queen and H.R.H. Prince Albert. Punch (1850) described him in humorous cartographic terms, “If Mr. Wyld’s brain should be ever discovered (we will be bound he has a Map of it inside his hat), we should like to have a peep at it, for we have a suspicion that the two hemispheres must be printed, varnished, and glazed, exactly like a pair of globes.”
