Isle of Wight. 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 from a 1766 edition which has a map of Hertfordshire on the reverse.

The Beauties of England and Wales was a topographical partwork, issued in 18 volumes between 1801 and 1815. From 1804 a set of maps and town plans was gradually introduced to accompany the work. The maps were drawn by G. Cole and engraved by J. Roper, and were initially sold as a separate partwork series, before being collected together in 1810 and issued as The British Atlas. They were later also used in early editions of Dugdale's Curiosities of Great Britain, England and Wales Delineated. This copy is dated 1805, and would have been one of the first partwork issues. Original colour. Mounted.

The Orkney & Shetland Islands/The Channel Islands/The Scilly Islands. Three maps on one sheet, covering some of the major island groups off the British coasts. The maps were drawn by Aaron Arrowsmith and engraved by Sidney Hall and the page is dated 1817, being from the first edition of Arrowsmith's New General Atlas, published that year.

Jersey. A coloured manuscript map of Jersey marking the island's administrative divisions. Possibly a child's school project?

The Channel Islands - Jersey & Guernsey. This attractive map of Jersey and Guernsey, drawn and engraved by John Rapkin, is best known from it's appearance in Tallis's Illustrated Atlas of the World, published in 1851. In this work it has the addition of a number of vignettes engraved in the blank sea areas. Tallis also used some of the atlas maps for another publication - British Colonies; their History, Extent, Condition, and Resources - published under the imprint of the London Printing and Publishing Company, also in 1851. This example is from this second work and lacks the vignettes - less attractive perhaps, but much the less common of the two states.

Isle of Wight. First published in parts between 1863 and 1868, the completed National Gazetteer went on sale from 1868. The maps, which are produced by litho transfer from an intaglio plate, are amongst the earliest to feature printed colour. There were a number of later editions (some under different titles) up to 1886. Colouring became more sophisticated on these later editions. This example of the Isle of Wight map is from its first atlas issue in 1868.

Isle of Wight. This map was originally drawn for the Weekly Dispatch newspaper as part of a series published between 1857 and 1863. The subsequent history of the maps includes re-issues in The Dispatch Atlas in 1863, Cassell's Complete Atlas in 1863, Cassell's British Atlas in 1865, Bacon's County Atlas in 1869, and Bacon's New Large Scale Ordnance Atlas from 1883. There is no attribution to an individual author on the Isle of Wight map, but the series were drawn by E. Weller, J. Dower and B. R. Davies. All editions of the maps were by lithographic transfer. Original printed colour.

This map formed part of a Parliamentary Report, submitted in December 1831, showing proposed changes to electoral arrangements and boundaries which were subsequently enacted in the 1832 Reform Act. The report and maps were subsequently published for public consumption in 1832. Dawson was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers charged with survey and production of maps to illustrate the changes. Original colour.

Moll's set of English and Welsh county maps were first published in 1724 in two formats - with descriptive text as a topographical work, and without text as an atlas. The latter format clearly proved more popular, as later editions included maps alone. Most maps carried illustrations of local antiquities or sights outside their borders, but the map of the islands never enjoyed such embellishments, probably because it required the extra page width to accommodate the small maps of the Scilly Isles and Holy Island, beside the main map of the Isle of Wight. This example is from the editions of 1747 or1753, so identified by the change in plate numbers, the Isle of Wight etc. map now becoming plate 18 (previously plate 9).

Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. First published by Chapman and Hall in 1831 in John Gorton's A Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland, and subsequently in A New British Atlas and in A Travelling County Atlas with lithographic transfers until 1875. This copy of the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey and Man is dated 1832, which dates it to the early 1833 or 1834 editions of the New British Atlas.

Philip's Handy Atlas was first published in 1873, with maps produced by lithographic transfer and drawn by John Bartholomew and Co. There were many later editions of the work, this example being from the edition of 1882. Printed colour.

West Cowes Castle & Carisbrooke Castle. The New British Traveller was one of a number of publications by Alexander Hogg aiming to tap the bouyant market for works on British topography and antiquities. It included text on each couny, a set of county maps by T. Conder and others, and numerous copperplate prints by a variety of engravers. The work was initially issued in 60 parts from c1783, and then as a complete work from 1784. West Cowes Castle is one of 2 forts built by Henry VIII in 1539 to guard the mouth of the River Medina. In 1716 the fort was remodelled for residential use, and further adapted in 1856-8 as the Club House for the Royal Yacht Squadron, which it remains today. Carisbrooke Castle existed by 1100 when it was in the possession of Richard de Redvers, but forts existed on the site in both Roman and Saxon times. The castle was purchased by King Edward I in 1293, since when it has been a crown property controlled by a Warden. King Charles 1 was imprisoned there in 1648/9 prior to his trial and execution, and in more recent times it was home to Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Beatrice from 1896-1944. It is today maintained by English Heritage who open it to the public. This print offers 2 views on 1 sheet, which could be separated for individual mounting if desired. A little marginal foxing would be hidden by a mount.

Carisbrooke Church. 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. The parish church of St. Mary's was built in the first quater of the 12th century. Towards the end of the century it became a conventual church, with the addition of a small Benedictine Priory. The Priory was later supressed by King Henry V in 1415, and the buildings were pulled down, leaving only the church, which underwent major restoration in 1914. This print was engraved by Sparrow - a couple of marginal spots.

Jersey - St. Hilary. The New British Traveller was one of a number of publications by Alexander Hogg aiming to tap the bouyant market for works on British topography and antiquities. It included text on each couny, a set of county maps by T. Conder and others, and numerous copperplate prints by a variety of engravers. The work was initially issued in 60 parts from c1783, and then as a complete work from 1784. St. Hilary is one of the 12 parishes of Jersey, and covers the majority of St. Helier, the islands largest town, which was once known by the parish name. The origins of the two alternative spellings are somewhat confused. One suggestion is that St. Helier was a martyred hermit living on the island in the first millenium, and his name was corrupted to "St. Hilary". An alternative version suggests a linkage with St. Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, with the parish church being dedicated in his honour. The corruption of the names would then be in the reverse order. This print shows a view of the town from the sea, and was probably taken from Elizabeth Castle, which lies on an offshore islet in the bay. A little marginal foxing, which could be hidden by judicious mounting.

Elizabeth Castle (Jersey), St. Michael's Castle (Guernsey), Lundy Castle, Caerphilly Castle (Glamorgan), Beaumaris Castle (Anglesea) & Minster Monastery (Sheppey). 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 1 sheet (mostly of castles) with 2 being of Channel Islands interest. Elizabeth Castle stands on an offshore islet in St. Aubin's Bay, protecting the town and harbour of St. Helier. It's construction began in the late 16th century and it was named in honour of Queen Elizabth I by Sir Walter Raleigh, who was Governor of Jersey from 1600-1603.It is today a museum and tourist attraction administered by Jersey Heitage. St. Michael's or Vale Castle lies on a promontory to the north of the town and harbour of St. Sampson. The earliest parts of the castle date from the 15th century, though some early Iron Age earthworks have also been found on the site. The Castle was apparently abandoned to decay some time around 1680, but later restored in the 1780's when a new barracks block was built. The barracks was demolished under the island's WWII occupation, but the castle remains are open to the public today. The print is supplied with the original, accompanying text.

Castle Rushin (Rushen), Castletown, Isle of Man. 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. Castle Rushin stands in a central position in Castletown, the historic capital of the Isle of Man. The first timber castle on the site was probably constructed in the 9th centry AD, with later rebuilding in stone and additions from the 13th to the 16th centuries. It was originally a possession of the Kings of Mann, and subsequently fought over by the Scots and English, changing hands several times. After 1660 its densive importance reduced, and it fell into decay, though still used as a prison, until it was restored in the late 19th century. It has been owned by Manx National Heritage since 1988, and is open as a heritage centre and museum. This print, engraved by Peltro, is supplied with the original, accompanying text. A few spots - mostly to the margins - which would be hidden by a mount.

Holy Island. 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. The island of Lindisfarne (or Holy Island) lies 1 mile off the north Northumbrian coast, and joined to the mainland at low tide.It has two notable buildings - a Priory and a Castle. The Priory was founded there by St. Aidan in 634 AD, and under St. Cuthbert became a leading centre for learning and the Christian faith, producing such works as the still surviving Lindisfarne Gospels. The monks fled the island in 878 after attacks by the Vikings and Danes, but the Priory was re-established in 1093, and continued until the dissolution of the monasteries, after which the buildings decayed. The ruins are today in the care of English Heritage and open to the public. The Castle was built in the mid 16th century as part of the coastal defences against the Scots. In 1901 it was bought by Edward Hudson, who employed Lutyens to refurnish it in the Arts and Crafts style. It is today maintained by the National Trust and opened to the public. This print, engraved by Peltro, is supplied with the original, accompanying text from the work.