This tactile map of Europe was created in 1939, and brailled by the Queensland Braille Map and Model Club. Cut and mounted by G. Vann with geographical inforamtion provided by Miss E Southern. The Queensland Braille Map and Model Club was a volunteer organisation which produced tactile maps from the 1920s to the late 1940s. These were sent as presents to schools, organisations and missions for people who were blind or vision impaired around Australia, New Zealand, Syria, India, Canada, Papua New Guinea and Africa. Due to free postage of Braille obtained by Tilly Aston and her compatriots, the maps were transported gratis within Australia and at a cheap rate overseas. When this map was made, East Prussia, Danzig and the Levant States were all separate countries. Some information about each country (name, area in sq miles and population) is written on a small door on the right hand side, which can be opened to reveal the same information in Braille. At the base is a braille and handwritten note "Information about maps gratis from Miss E Southern "Kingsley" George St, Brisbane. "For lending to the Blind" is written at the base of the wooden frame.1 paper attached to wooden mount with metal labels, on the right hand side a small door with country information on the front and opens to reveal the same in Braille. queensland braille map and model club, r.f. tunley

Tactile map of Australian states and territories, as well as various countries and islands in the South Pacific region, including Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Malay peninsula. 1 paper map with tactile metal markers in red and brown framesqueensland braille map and model club, r.f. tunley

This map was produced by Richard Francis Tunley and given to the Victorian Braille Library for use by it's patrons. Mr Tunley was a prolific Braille map maker as well as producing other items for blind and vision impaired children, advocated for compulsory education for blind and deaf children and established the Queensland Braille Map and Model Club. Leading by example, his maps were treasured by those who used them and were an outstanding piece of craftsmanship. In this example, the metal cylinder sits on a wooden base and can be turned via a handle in the wooden top or rotating the sides. A brailled red metal plate occupies the bottom third, and large continents have a metal plate, cut to shape, upon which braille country/continent names are placed. Major rivers are traced through raised lines in the metal continental plates, twisted wire traces shipping routes with associated brailled metal plates, raised metal pins in some major locations and more explanatory plates sit in various oceans.1 metal cylindrical map with tactile markersCommercial & Strategic Map of the British Empire Presented to the Victorian Braille Librarybraille library of victoria, r.f. tunley