Meek’s Atlas: Treatment of an oversized rolled chart

In 2015, an oversized 1862 photolithograph of Meek’s Historical and Descriptive Atlas of the British Colonies in Continental and Insular Australia surfaced as a conservation and digitisation priority within the Maps collection at the State Library Victoria, Melbourne. Originating as a large-scale pen and ink drawing by James McKain Meek in 1861, the Atlas provided a condensed history of each of the Australian colonies and was widely celebrated for its skilful miniature penmanship, winning a First Prize at the 1861 Victorian International Exhibition. Meek subsequently printed copies of the Atlas by photolithograph as a commercial enterprise, and a number remain in public collections across Australia. The original drawing is since thought lost. The photolithograph was prioritised for treatment in view of its social and historical significance, aesthetic appeal and unique content. This chart may be the only available representation of a second version of the Atlas, which includes additional printed elements. Oversized works on paper, particularly those in poor condition, can present challenges for conservators. This paper will discuss the treatment of Meek’s Atlas, presenting a modified procedure for the conservation of oversized rolled charts that highlights the use of Western and Japanese materials and techniques.