A detailed and superbly engraved map in fine original hand colouring. Cary’s Improved Map of England and Wales comprises 65 sheets and covers an area of approximately 236 sq. feet when laid out. N.B. A complete set, dissected and boxed, of all 65 maps, title page, index, etc. is being sourced and should be available shortly.

At some point in the past the map has been carefully laid on card ; there is some light marginal discolouration in places and some tears to the edges.

The first in a series of road maps issued intermittently between 1765 and at least 1775 some of which are credited to the engraver Thomas Bowen. Chester is given as 182 miles from London implying a scale of roughly three miles to the inch. Showing windmills, paper mills, water mills, gibbets, brine pits as well as distances, gentleman’s houses and halls.

The very rare first printing by Robert Rowe of a clear, detailed and visually appealing map of the county subsequently published, in its engraved form, by Henry Teesdale between 1829 and 1842, and lithographically, by Henry George Collins and B.Clarke between 1848 and 1852.

To include a small contemporary watercolour smudge in the bottom right corner, an untouched original example.

Uncommon. Shows the dioceses of Hereford and Worcester in 1535 as Henry VIII began the process of appropriating the property and revenues of religious institutions after his split with Rome. It should be noted that the Hereford diocese extended as far north as the River Severn at Shrawardine and that of Worcester as far east as Warwick. There is some light offsetting to the right hand side of the map.

Rare.

An attractive, uncommon map.

A large, detailed and beautifully engraved map of Shropshire showing turnpike roads, toll bars, canals, railways, wind mills and water mills as well as towns, villages, castles, priories, churches, chapels, hills and rivers.

A clearly engraved, attractively coloured map of Shropshire showing ‘every Parish and Place containing upwards of 40 Houses’, numbers of inhabitants, houses and acreages. Although this map is from the 1813 edition it retains the the imprint of R.Philips, Bridge Street, Blackfriars and the original date of publication of 1808; it is, however, a most unusual example in that, contrary to most sources, the engraver’s name has been removed.

Derived from the map of Shropshire by John Speed first issued in 1611 with the addition of roads loosely based on Ogilby’s survey of 1675.

Civitates Orbis Terrarum could be called the first city atlas; published in six parts between 1572 and 1617 it encompassed well over 500 plans and views of towns and cities from Europe(predominantly), North Africa, the Near East and the Americas. The town plans of York, Shrewsbury and Lancaster are all based on those of Speed’s county maps.