Mid 19th century map of the different post routes to India

A map of the routes from London to India, taking passengers and mail, presented in two sections. The upper map shows the four prime routes to the eastern Mediterranean: the Mail Steam Packet Route, via Gibraltar; the Marseilles Overland Route, across France; and two German Overland Routes, both reaching the Adriatic at Trieste. The lower half continues the routes into Asia: from Alexandria across Egypt to Suez and on by sea via Suez; and the Euphrates Route, from İskenderun (Alexandretta) across Turkey and Iraq to the Persian Gulf and on by sea.. The maps are decorated with vignette views of the Post Office in London, Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Bombay and Madras. The map was drawn and engraved by John Rapkin for the 'The Illustrated Atlas, and Modern History of the World, Geographical Political, Commercial & Statistical', edited by Montgomery Martin, which was one of the last decorative atlases to be published.