Copperplate

Monmouthshire : 21 items

Maps

R. Blome    England Exactly Described 1715 (1681)
£65
18.5 x 23cm


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 Monmouthshire, replacing it with additional place names in the top left corner. There were further editions in 1715 (by Taylor), and in c1731 (by Thomas Bakewell). These later editions had roads added to the maps. This example of the Monmouthshire map is from the 1715 edition of the work. Original hand colour.
Ref: MON 015
 
R. Morden    Camden's Britannia 1695
£95
41 x 34.5cm


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 example is from the first Gibson edition of 1695.
Ref: MON 393
 
J. Cary    New and Correct English Atlas 1809 (1787)
£30
26.5 x 21cm


The last decades of the 18th century saw less emphasis being placed on the traditions of decorative mapmaking in favour of a plainer style and design. Foremost amongst this new wave of "modern" cartographers and engravers was John Cary. The New and Correct English Atlas was Cary's first major production as a publisher in his own account. The maps were not only clearly and elegantly drawn and engraved, but also set new standards in accuracy in taking advantage of all the new large-scale county surveys of the second half of the 18th century. The atlas was first published in 1787, with a re-issue in 1793. By 1808 the plates were well worn, and the engraving of a new set was begun. The next dated edition of 1809, from which this example comes, utilised these new plates. Original outline colour. Supplied mounted, ready to frame, and with the original, accompanying text page.
Ref: MON 397
 
J. Cary    Camden's Britannia 1789
£30
40.5 x 45cm


Camden's Britannia was first published in 1586. County maps by Kip and Hole were first added in 1607, being supplanted by those of Robert Morden for the 5 editions from 1695 to 1772. In 1789 a new translation of the work by Richard Gough was published by John Stockdale with updated and modernised maps by John Cary. The same maps were also later used in Cary's New British Atlas of 1805. They can be found uncoloured, with outline colour and with full wash colour. This uncoloured example is from the first Gough edition of Britannia, published in 1789. A little offsetting.
Ref: MON 398
 
J. Cary    Camden's Britannia 1806 (1789)
£50
40.5 x 45cm


Camden's Britannia was first published in 1586. County maps by Kip and Hole were first added in 1607, being supplanted by those of Robert Morden for the 5 editions from 1695 to 1772. In 1789 a new translation of the work by Richard Gough was published by T. Payne and G. & J. Robinson with updated and modernised maps by John Cary. The same maps were also later used in Cary's New British Atlas of 1805. They can be found uncoloured, with outline colour and with full wash colour. This example is from the second Gough edition of Britannia, published in 1806, and the maps are in full wash colour - the most desirable state. Close trimmed to right hand border to fit publication, but not affecting printed area.
Ref: MON 399
 
C. Smith    New English Atlas 1808 (1804)
£70
44 x 49cm


Charles Smith was a successful London publisher and map-seller, whose work is stylistically very similar to that of John Cary. His large format New English Atlas first came to market in 1804, but many of the maps have also been found in folding format and may have been sold individually before the publication of the atlas. Smith's maps were well designed and accurate, making use of the large scale county surveys of the previous half-century. The atlas was a commercial success and was up-dated and re-published regularly until c1865 (the latter editions produced by lithographic transfer). This example is from the 1808 second edition, and is in bright and original full colour.
Ref: MON 401
 
B. Capper    Topographical Dictionary of the UK 1808
£10
18 x 10.5cm


Benjamin Pitts Capper was the author of this topographical directory, first published by R. Phillips in 1808. The maps were engraved, and possibly drawn by H. Cooper. Later editions of the work carry the imprint of G.and W.B. Whittaker who re-published the book from 1825-34. This example is from the first edition of 1808, with the hundreds shown in original, full wash colour.
Ref: MON 402
 
J. Cary    New English Atlas 1811 (1809)
£70
53.5 x 47.5cm


It is suprising that Cary's large county atlas was issued as late as 1809, as individual maps from it seem to have been sold singly from 1801. The atlas format was perhaps to compete with the similarly sized atlas of Charles Smith, which went under the same title and was published in 1804. It is perhaps Cary's finest production, the maps being notable for their fine design, detail and engraving. The atlas ran to several later editions by Cary, and the plates were later used for a variety of lithographic transfers by G.F. Cruchley. This example is from the second edition of 1811, and is in original full colour. A light crease.
Ref: MON 403
 
T. Murray    An Atlas of the English Counties 1830
£20
35.5 x 45cm


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. A short, repaired, marginal tear, not affecting the image.
Ref: MON 007
 
A. Fullarton    The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1840-49 (1833)
£20
19 x 24.5cm


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 to frame.
Ref: MON 008
 
J. Duncan    A Complete County Atlas of England and Wales 1840-45 (1825)
£35
34.5 x 43.5cm


Coloured. These maps were first published in 1825, and probably 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 later re-issues in 1840 and 1845 with the addition of railways, and this map dates from one of these editions.
Ref: MON 1109
 
B. Clarke R. Rowe    The British Gazetteer 1852 (1816)
£20
33.5 x 41.5cm


These maps first appeared in Rowe's English Atlas of 1816, being subsequently acquired by a succession of later publishers and used in a variety of their works. They were modified and updated during this time. This example is the second lithographic transfer for Clarke's British Gazetteer, published in 1852 by H.G. Collins. The map was folded and trimmed close to bottom right hand border to fit the volume, and has been re-margined with matching, old paper to facilitate mounting if so desired..
Ref: MON 1178
 
J. Jansson    Schenk and Valk Composite Atlases/Atlas Anglois? 1694-1715 (1646)
£550
50 x 39.5cm


The plates of Jansson's British maps were acquired by Peter Schenk and Gerard Valk in 1694. The new owners' imprint was substituted and a graticule of grid lines was added to most maps (Gloucestershire/Monmouthshire being an exception). The maps were sold singly and in made-up atlases. The plates were later acquired by David Mortier and that of Gloucestershire/Monmouthshire was used in his Atlas Anglois of 1714. Original full colour.
Ref: GLO 1214
 
J. Speed    England Fully Described c1716-43 (1612)
£420
50 x 38cm


John Speed's maps of the English and Welsh counties are amongst the most decorative of early, British cartographic work, and are eagerly sought after today. They were first published in 1612 in The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, designed as a companion volume to Speed's History of Great Britaine. The maps were based on the earlier surveys of Saxton, Norden and a few others, with engraving contracted to Jodocus Hondius whose signature appears on 33 of the maps. Speed's greatest innovation was the inclusion of inset plans of major towns and cities. Although some were copied from earlier work, for many towns this was first plan ever published. Speed's county atlas was re-issued a number of times for a period of around 160 years, with new publishers making various small changes and updates to the maps over time. This example bears the imprint of Henry Overton who probably acquired the Speed plates in c1713. Imprints began to be changed from c1716, all being revised by c1720. By the time the 1743 edition was published a number of maps had been further amended to delete giveaway dates. Monmouthshire is one of these, the original publication date of 1610 being removed. This example pre-dates this deletion. The maps were issued as a complete Speed atlas under the title indicated, but also used with other stock in the collation of "made-up" county atlases. By 1754 the Speed plates had been sold on to Dicey resulting in the next and final change of imprint.
Ref: MON 1335
 
J. Wallis S. Oddy    Wallis's New Britlish Atlas 1813
£30
18 x 26cm


James Wallis's New British Atlas was first published in 1813 by S.A. Oddy. There was a second edition in 1816. This example is from the first edition and is dated 1812 on the imprint. It is in attractive, original, full wash colour, and in good condition.
Ref: MON 1562
 
R. Miller R. Ramble    Reuben Ramble's Travel's through the Counties of England 1845
£45
14 x 18cm


These maps (without the decorative borders) were first issued in 1821 in Miller's New Miniature Atlas. The plates were later acquired by William Darton who re-issued them as a miniature atlas, but also used the maps, now further embellished by country scenes, in this children's work. Reuben Ramble is an invented character, the author's real name being the Rev. Samuel Clark. Original hand colour.
Ref: MON 021
 
G.A. Walpoole    The New British Traveller 1784
£29
11 x 19.5cm


The New British Traveller was originally issued as a weekly partwork by the publisher Alexander Hogg, commencing in 1783. Once the series of 60 parts was completed in 1784 title pages were provided for the pages to be bound in a single volume. The work is a topographical review of Great Britain, containing numerous prints and a set of county and general maps. The maps are of varying sizes, being typically arranged 2,3 or 4 to a single page, with adjoining borders. When separated this means individual maps will be trimmed to the border on one or two sides and are often re-margined for mounting and framing. The map of Monmouthshire is re-margined on one side and sold ready-mounted. The text pages for the county may be available on request at no extra charge.
Ref: MON 1538
 
J. Lodge    Untitled Atlas of the English Counties c1795
£55
26 x 32cm


This was one of a set of county maps engraved by John Lodge and issued between 1787 and 1790 in The Political Magazine, and Parliamentary, Naval, Military and Literary Journal, published initially by John Murray, and later by R. Butters. The maps were subsequently collected together and re-issued as an atlas (without title page) around 1795. For this atlas edition the imprint with the publication date and engraver's and publisher's signatures was removed from the maps. This example is from the atlas edition. The maps are well engraved in the plainer style then coming into vogue. They are uncommon, and sought by collectors.
Ref: MON 001a
 
R. Creighton S. Lewis    View of the Representative History of England 1835
£17
20 x 23cm


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.
Ref: MON 003
 
H. Teesdale R. Rowe    New British Atlas 830 (1812-14)
£25
34 x 41.5cm


This detailed and well engraved map was one of a set first published around 1812-14 by Robert Rowe, who was probably also their draftsman and engraver. The maps were initially sold singly in folding format until their collective issue in 1816 as The English Atlas. The plates were later acquired by Henry Teesdale, who amended titles and imprints and re-issued the work as the New British Atlas in 1829, with several re-issues up to 1842. The plates were later acquired and used by H.G. Collins and then by G. Philip and Son, who both used them as the base for lithographic transfers for a variety of works up to c1860. This example is from the 1830 second edition of Teesdale's atlas. Original wash colour.
Ref: MON 006
 

Topographical prints - other areas

A. Hogg H. Boswell    The Antiquities of England and Wales c1787-9
£10
31.5 x 19.5cm


Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey, Hampton Court & Ely House (Middlesex), & Bothall Castle & Brinkburn Priory (both Northumberland). The Antiquities of England and Wales was the product of Alexander Hogg who was well known as a partwork publisher. Under the claimed authorship of Henry Boswell it was issued serially from c1787-9, and subsequently made available as a complete work. The format was typically 2 (though sometimes up to 6) prints to a page, with one or two accompanying pages of descriptive text on each pair of subjects. It also included the set of English county maps by Thomas Kitchin first used in the London Magazine from 1747-54. This anonymous print offers 6 views on one sheet, including 2 of Monmouthshire interest. Chepstow Castle was built in stone by the Norman Baron William FitzOsbern, beginning in 1067. It was one of a string of such castles defending the Welsh Marches. It stands on a cliff overlooking the River Wye. In the 16th century, with peace along the border, it was remodelled as a more comfortable Tudor mansion, but fell into decay from c1682. Under new ownership it was restored in the 20th century, and is now maintained by Cadw (the Welsh equivalent of English Heritage) who open it to the public. The Cictercian Abbey at Tintern was founded in 1131 by Walter de Clare. It fell into decay after the dissultion of the monasteries, but became the haunt of Romantic tourism from c 1780. It has been immortalised in verse by Wordsworth and in paint by Turner. The ruins are today maintained by Cadw and open to the public.
Ref: TOP 320