A GRAND COLONIAL WORK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1627, 4 August 1887, Page 2

A GRAND COLONIAL WORK

u— + PIOTURESQOE ATLAS OF AUSTRALASIA Mr S. J. Reynolds, representing the Picturesque Atlaa Company (Limited), of Sydney, who is now In' Aahburtoa for the purpose of Introducing to the notice of the oitizens. "The Plotareeque Atlan of Australasia," from 1606 to 1888, baa submitted for oar inßpeotion sample parts of the work. This, when completed will be by far the grandest achievemnt of the kind this side the line, and we very much question whether its oqual was ever seen the light m any portion of the civilised world. It la a grind conception, admirably carried oat, m all its many departments, There are map*, aa m the ordinary atlaa, giving the geographical outlines, oarefally designed and beautifully executed, but each of those is only one of a Bet. There are others of the district drawn ao aa to afford all kinds of information at a glance. The letterpreßi la m clear bold type, and from a otuaory glanoe appears to be written by one who is master not only of his subject bat of language also. Such a mass of inf )rma* tion aa to soil, climate, rainfall, prodaota, manufactures, echoo's, churches, and soolal and raliglous life, has never been before attempted. The chief charm of the work, however, to the ordinary reader atjlea^t, will bo the exquisitely beautiful illustrations with which the work abounds. Theae bear silent but eloquent testimony to the high claea taste and skill of the artiats and engravers alike. Space would fail us if we attempted to say all that we should like to say m praise of the work, bat when we state that upwards of £130,000 baa already been tpent on Its production, readers will be abla to form aome idea of the elaborateness 'of the work. It will bo iisued m monthly parts at five shillings so as to bring it within the reaoh of all.