Robert Laurie and James Whittle's road book was conceptually different from the Ogilby model of following just one major road from it's origin to its end destination. The publishers offered a work with 24 effectively, sectional maps, each covering the major road network in a given area. County borders, coasts,rivers, and major towns were plotted with their correct topographical relationships, but roads were mainly shown as straight lines linking the main towns. Although smaller towns and settlements along the roads were marked, their positioning on the map did not truly reflect their relative positions on the ground. Different types of roads were differentiated by how they were delineated. The maps were drawn and engraved by Nathanial Coltman, and the work was first published in 1806. There were a number of regular, later editions (with some additions and refinements) up to 1846. This example is plate 4 covering the Isle of Wight's road network local distances being shown from Newport. It is dated 1806, and is thus from the first edition of the work.

Plate 4 - Roads in the Isle of Wight. Robert Laurie and James Whittle's road book was conceptually different from the Ogilby model of following just one major road from it's origin to its end destination. The publishers offered a work with 24 effectively, sectional maps, each covering the major road network in a given area. County borders, coasts,rivers, and major towns were plotted with their correct topographical relationships, but roads were mainly shown as straight lines linking the main towns. Although smaller towns and settlements along the roads were marked, their positioning on the map did not truly reflect their relative positions on the ground. Different types of roads were differentiated by how they were delineated. The maps were drawn and engraved by Nathanial Coltman, and the work was first published in 1806. There were a number of regular, later editions (with some additions and refinements) up to 1846. This example is plate 4 covering the Isle of Wight's road network local distances being shown from Newport. It is dated 1806, and is thus from the first edition of the work.