In c1689 Philip Lea published a new edition of Saxton's atlas, the plates being much revised to include roads and town plans. Lea's plates were acquired by George Wildey in 1730 who added his own imprint and sold the maps singly or in atlas format. The Saxton map originally covered the 5 counties of Northants, Beds, Hunts. Rutland and Cambridge. Lea's revisions obliterated much of Cambridge and Wildey had to have a new map of this county engraved for the atlas. Old colour. A very good example of this most desirable and scarce map.G. Wildey imprint.
J. Blaeu Theatrum Orbis Terrarum 1645, 1648, 1663 or 1667
The Blaeu family were one of the leading Dutch map producers of the 17th century. Their major work was a multi volume world atlas initiated by Willem Blaeu and expanded by his son Joan. Their maps were beautifully designed and engraved, and are often found with original colour, making them most desirable to collectors. 1645 saw the first publication of volume 4 of the atlas, containing maps of England and Wales. There were several re-issues between then and 1672 when most of Blaeu's plates were lost in a fire which engulfed his Amsterdam premises. Most maps in the atlas have a double page to themselves, but the Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire maps shared a double page, each being presented within its own framed borders. Today these two maps are usually found separated. French text on the verso narrows dating of this example to the editions of 1645, 1648, 1663 or 1667. Original colour. Mounted.
Camden's Britannia - a history and topography of Britain - was first published in 1586 and had a long and successful publication history. County maps by Kip and Hole were addded in 1607, and these also appeared in the editions of 1610 and 1637. Over 50 year's later it was decided to issue a new and updated edition. The original Latin text was re-translated by Edmund Gibson, and Robert Morden was commissioned to provide a new set of county and general maps in a more modern style. The revised work was issued in 1695. There were 4 further editions of the Gibson/Morden work, the last in 1772, before a further updated version by Richard Gough was launched in 1789, with new maps by John Cary. This is an attractively coloured example from one of the Gibson editions. A couple of repaired marginal nicks and tears not affecting the printed area.
The Small English Atlas was initially published by Kitchin and Jefferys as a weekly partwork, beginning in November 1748. Sale as a complete atlas followed the final and 13th part of the series. The individual maps generally appear in two or three states (though Bedfordshire is unusual in having four), with plate numbers being added some time during the life of the 1751 edition. Before 1775 the printing plates became the property of Robert Sayer, John Bennet, and John and Carington Bowles, and editions of the work were sold by them and their successors until around 1825. Despite this, the maps are far from commonplace on today's market. The Bedfordshire map was first issued in 1749, and this example is in the map's fourth state, which would date it to the later editions of the atlas issued from 1785 to c1796. Original outline colour. Slightly toned overall.
E. Bowen The General Magazine of Arts and Sciences/The Natural History of England 1760
This map first appeared in the March 1760 number of Benjamin Martin's General Magazine of Arts and Sciences, a monthly partwork which between 1755 and 1762 included a series of county maps. The magazine's format was novel, each issue covering 5 (later 6) subject areas. The intention was that all those parts relating to any one subject could later be rebound into subject volumes, for which individual title pages would be issued. In 1763 title pages for a two volume set were issued for those parts relating to natural history. Subscribers could then, if so desired, rebind their original partworks, and new purchasers could purchase the completed work under the title, The Natural History of England. There were no later re-issues and the maps are today not common. Modern hand colour. Supplied ready-mounted.
J. Ellis Ellis's English Atlas 1766 (1765)
Joseph Ellis's English Atlas was an entry into the market for small county atlases by its publishers Robert Sayer and Carington Bowles. The county maps were closely based upon those drawn by Thomas Kitchin for the 1763 topographical work England Illustrated, the major difference being the attractive vignettes which replaced Kitchin's rococco cartouches. The atlas was first published in 1765, and soon became a commercial success, running to many later editions. It was promoted as a travelling atlas, and made available in various formats. These included a version with the maps printed back to back on each page, as with this example, which dates from a 1766 edition and has a map of Britain under the Saxon Heptarchy printed on the reverse. Short tear to left margin not affecting printed area.
England Illustrated was a topographical work on England and Wales published in 2 volumes by R. and J. Dodsley. The work included a set of English and Welsh county maps drawn and engraved by Thomas Kitchin. These were republished without the text as Kitchin's English Atlas in 1765. Modern hand colour.
J. Ellis Ellis's English Atlas 1765-1786
Joseph Ellis's English Atlas was an entry into the market for small county atlases by its publishers Robert Sayer and Carington Bowles. The county maps were closely based upon those drawn by Thomas Kitchin for the 1763 topographical work England Illustrated, the major difference being the attractive vignettes which replaced Kitchin's rococco cartouches. The atlas was first published in 1765, and soon became a commercial success, running to many later editions. It was promoted as a travelling atlas, and made available in various formats. Mounted.
John Aikin (or Aiken) wrote this topographical work for children in order "to make my young countrymen better acquainted than they are usually found to be with their native land". The first edition of 1788 did not include county maps, but these were added for the second edition of 1790, from which this example comes. The work was published by Joseph Johnson, but the maps are unsigned. There were four later editions of the book with the maps, and one without. The Bedfordshire map is fairly simple, befitting the needs of its target audience, and the text may be available at no extra charge.
Over the first decades of the 19th century, Samuel Neele engraved a number of maps for the Encyclopaedia Londinensis which was published serially. A number of these maps state specifically in the imprint that they were engraved for the Encyclopaedia. The lower margin of this example of the Bedfordshire map has been trimmed, resulting in the loss of the imprint. Comparison with another Bedfordshire example reveals that it did not carry an attribution to the Enclyclopaedia, but did bear the name of the publisher J. Wilkes, and the date 1801. An unprepossessing little map but not commonly found - one for the collector.
An Atlas of England/The Picture of England Illustrated. These small maps were first issued in 1803 as An Atlas of England. There was a subsequent re-issue the following year in The Picture of England Illustrated, by William Green. Butters' maps are most unusual in being orientated so that their tiltles and place names read from east to west. In the case of Bedfordshire this means that north is at the bottom rather than the top of the map. The maps are quite rare. Original colour.
J. Pigot Untitled Set of County Maps c1829/30
James Pigot & Co's county maps were issued in their British Atlas (from c1829), in several of their national and local business directories (from 1826 for some of the "home counties", at least), and singly in folding form as travelling maps. They were amongst the first maps to be printed from steel instead of copper plates, allowing more accurate fine detail and less wear to the plates over time. Atlas and directories went through several editions up to around 1857, later editions from 1846 being re-named Slater's New British Atlas, with imprints changed accordingly. This copy is the first state of the Bedfordshire map as issued in an untitled set of maps around 1829/30, and precedes the atlas proper (see Chambers "Printed Maps and Town Plans of Bedfordshire 1576-1900", entry 85 (i)). Original outline colour. A little toning.
Samuel Lewis' Topographical Dictionary was first published in 1831, and there were a mumber or re-issues up to 1849. The county maps, which were drawn by R. Creighton and engraved by J.& C. Walker, were sometimes published with the text and sometimes in a separate, accompanying atlas volume. This example dates from the 1831 or 1835 editions.
A. Fullarton The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1840-49 (1833)
These maps were first published by Fullarton and Co. in 1833 in James Bell's New and Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales which was re-issued three times in the 1830's. They were subsequently re-published (again by Fullarton) in 1840 in The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales, with several further re-issues up to 1849. The maps were engraved on steel and sometimes bear the name of the engraver and sometimes not. This example is from the Parliamentary Gazetteer and bears the signature of Gray & Son as engravers. Supplied mounted and ready for framing.
Thomas Moule's antiquarian leanings are evident in this series of highly decorative county maps - a stylistic throwback in an age when cartographic work had become much plainer and more utilitarian. The maps were engraved by W. Smollinger, J. Bingley and J. Dower, and first appeared in Moule's English Counties Delineated, a partwork with text issued from 1830. They were subsequently made available as a complete work in 1837 under the same title, and were later re-issued in Barclay's Universal English Dictionary between 1842 and 1852. This latter work ran to several editions and the maps were often updated between editions to show the latest growth of the railway network. This example in modern colour is from an edition of Barclay's Dictionary between 1842 and 1852. Supplied mounted and ready to frame.
J. Archer Dugdale's England and Wales Delineated 1842 or 1846 (1842)
This map by Joshua Archer first appeared in 1842 in Dugdale's Curiosities of Great Britain, England and Wales Delineated. There were several further editions of the work up to 1858, some with slight amendments to the title. This example is from the 1842 or 1846 editions of the work. Modern colour.
The same set of maps were also used in other publications such as Barclay's Universal English Dictionary, and Tallis's Topographical Dictionary of England and Wales.
Between 1824 and 1828 William Ebden produced a set of county maps which were issued under various publisher's imprints, and probaby only sold singly. In 1833 they were re-published by James Duncan in a thematic atlas to illustrate the representative changes brought about by the 1832 Reform Act. There were several subsequent editions between 1835 and 1845, with railways being added to the later editions. This example has no railways (first added 1840) and is therefore from one of the earlier editions of Duncan's atlas between 1833 and 1838. The printing plates were later acquired and re-used by Stanfords.
J. Cowley The Geography of England 1743 (1741
Cowley's Bedfordshire map was one of six county maps first issued in a short-lived partwork titled The Publick Register;or The Weekly Magazine. Bedfordshire appeared in March 1741. The publisher, R. Dodsley, subsequently decided to complete the set of maps for a new topographical work, The Geography of England. This book's title page is dated 1744, though other evidence suggests an actual publication date of November 1743. The 52 maps were re-issued in 1745 and 1748 as a county atlas without text under the title A New Sett of Pocket Maps of all the Counties of England and Wales. The maps are uncommon.
A. Perrot L'Angleterre, ou Description Historique et Topographique du Royaume de la Grande-Bretagne 1824-35
The text for this French topographical work on Britain was written by George Depping, the maps being drawn by Aristide Perrot and engraved by A. Migneret. It was first published in 1824, with subsequent editions in 1828 and 1835. The maps often cover more than one county as in this example which also includes Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. The surrounding decorative border shows the typical produce and wares of the counties. Original outline colour.
J. Seller Camden's Britannia Abridg'd 1701 (c1695)
First published in Anglia Contracta in c1695, John Seller's maps were subsequently reissued in A History of England in 1696, and in Camden's Britannia Abridg'd in 1701. They were later re-used in the 1780's in Grose's Antiquities of England and Wales, for which titles and scale-bars were changed, the maps also being set in a page of text. The Seller/Grose maps are common, the originals by Seller much less so. This example of the Bedfordshire map is from Camden's Britannia Abridg'd published in 1701. Modern hand colour.
H. Moll The Geography of England and Wales 1747 (1724)
Moll's county atlas was first published in 1724. This map dates from the 1747 edition in which the title of the work was changed, the order in which the maps appeared was revised, and plate numbers were amended accordingly. This is the last edition with the marginal engravings of antiquities which were removed from subsequent editions. A few marginal nicks not affecting the printed area.
T. Kitchin The Antiquities of England and Wales 1787-98 (1751)
This map was first published in the November 1747 edition of the London Magazine, which between 1747 and 1754 issued a complete set of English county maps by Thomas Kitchin. The maps were later re-published in 1787-98 by Alexander Hogg in Boswell's Antiquities of England & Wales, and this example is from this later issue.
E. Bowen Atlas Anglicanus 1768 or 1777 (1776)
This map first appeared in 1767 in the Atlas Anglicanus, published by Thomas Kitchin with maps engraved by Emanuel and Thomas Bowen. The maps copied the earlier Large English Atlas in style, with rococo cartouches, and topographical notes surrounding the maps. They were first issued in monthly partworks between 1767 and 1768 before the complete atlas followed in 1768. Emanuel Bowen was named as the sole author on the first state of the Bedfordshire map, as is the case on some 10 others, but after his death in 1767, his son Thomas completed the series, most other maps citing both father and son jointly. There was a second edition of the atlas in c1777, before the plates passed to Carington Bowles and were updated and re-issued as Bowles' New Medium English Atlas in 1785. On Bowles' death the plates passed to his business successors, trading as Bowles and Carver, who re-issued the atlas sometime after 1793 with their own imprint as proprietors on individual maps. The Atlas Anglicanus was not a commercial success and maps from it are not commonly found. This example is either from the atlas's first edition of 1768 or the second edition of 1777.
R. Blome England Exactly Described c1717-31 (1681)
Blome's smaller series of county maps have a puzzling history. They seem to have been initiated before his larger maps for Britannia, but were not published until 1681 when they appeared under the title Speed's Maps Epitomiz'd. Blome re-issued them twice before his death in 1705. The plates were subsequently acquired by Thomas Taylor who brought out a new edition in 1715 titled England Exactly Described.Taylor removed Blome's dedications on a number of maps including this one of Bedfordshire. This copy is probably from the 1717 edition by Taylor or the later edition published by Bakewell, as it includes a plate number and has had roads added.
First published in Anglia Contracta in c1695, Seller's maps were subsequently reissued in A History of England in 1696, and in Camden's Britannia Abridged in 1701. They were later re-used in the 1780's in Grose's Antiquities of England and Wales, for which titles and scale-bars were changed, the maps also being set in a page of text. The Seller/Grose maps are common, the originals by Seller much less so. Supplied mounted ready for framing if desired.
This work was published in 1835 as a companion volume to Lewis's Topographic Dictionary. It contains county and borough maps, drawn by R. Creighton and engaved by J.& C. Walker, and was designed to show the electoral and boundary changes effected by the 1832 Reform Act. There were 2 issues of the work in 1835 and 1840, this example of the county map being from the 1835 first edition. Original outline colour. The map suffers from foxing and is priced accordingly.
Harrison's atlas was published in 1791, but maps were engraved and dated between 1787 and 1791, and may have been sold singly as completed. Bedfordshire is dated 1788.
E. Bowen Bowles New Medium Atlas 1785 (1767)
This map first appeared in 1767 in the Atlas Anglicanus, published by Thomas Kitchin with maps engraved by Emanuel and Thomas Bowen. The maps copied the Large English Atlas in style, with rococo cartouches, and topographical notes surrounding the maps. The maps for the Atlas Anglicanus were first issued in monthly partworks between 1767 and 1768 before the complete atlas followed in 1768. Emanuel Bowen was named as the sole author on the first state of the Bedfordshire map, as is the case on some 10 others, but after his death in 1767, his son Thomas completed the series, most other maps citing both father and son jointly. There was a second edition of the atlas in c1777, before the plates passed to Carington Bowles and were updated and re-issued as Bowles' New Medium English Atlas in 1785. On Bowles' death the plates passed to his business successors, trading as Bowles and Carver, who re-issued the atlas sometime after 1793 with their own imprint as proprietors on individual maps. The Atlas Anglicanus was not a commercial success and maps from it are not commonly found. This example is from the atlas's 1785 issue by Bowles, for which individual map titles titles were changed, with Bowles name replacing that of Bowen. Original outline colour.
T. Murray An Atlas of the English Counties 1830
The title page of Murray's county atlas states that the maps were "Projected on the basis of the Trigonometrical Survey by order of the hon.ble The Board of Ordnance, under the superindendance of T.L. Murray". This might seem to imply the project had at least the official blessing, if not the active involvement of the Ordnance Survey, but is more likely to be a marketing puff. D. Hodson has suggested that the maps were copied from those of William Ebden published from 1825-8, both sets also being engraved by the same firm of Hoare & Reeves. Murray's Atlas was first published in 1830, with second and third editions in 1831 and 1832, the latter with the adddition of electoral data. by 1838 the plates had been acquired by W. Robson & Co. who published and sold the maps individually, and also used them in their commercial directories. This example is from the first edition of 1830. Original colour.
Polyolbion or "A Chorographical Description of all the Tracts, Rivers, Mountains, Forests, and other Parts of this Renowned Isle of Great Britain" is a strange work. It is made up of a series of "songs" in poetic form by Michael Drayton, these being illustrated with a series of maps, probably engraved by William Hole. It was first published in 1612 with 18 songs, each with a related map. In 1622 an expanded version was published with "Part Two" containing an additional 12 songs and associated maps. The new "Part Two" included this map covering Bedfodrshire and part of Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. The maps show no county borders or boundaries, but focus on rivers and are illustrated with allegorical figures of hunters, water nymphs and such like. This was the only issue of this map. Supplied mounted.