RARE EDITION. This small and attractive atlas was first published November 1748 in thirteen weekly parts by a consortium of nine publishers. No copy of this version survives and it seems likely that Thomas Jefferys and Thomas Kitchin took over the project at an early date. At some point before the publication of the second edition in 1751 alterations were made to some of the plates. During the issue of this 1751 edition plate numbers were added. The atlas proved popular, running to 7 editions, with various changes and additions. Hodson records it still being in the stock of Robert Wilkinson in 1825. Robert Sayer no doubt acquired his interest in the publication following the death of Thomas Jefferys in 1771. In 1776 Sayer with his partner at the time John Bennett first published a work entitled An English Atlas, this survives in just one known example (private English collection). This larger format work includes interleaved descriptive text with details of market towns and fairs below, all but the chart in original hand-colouring and all the same series of maps in an unfolded state.At some time prior to his death in 1787, Bennett left the partnership and possibly spurred by the immanent publication of John Cary’s New and Correct English Atlas, Sayer published a new edition of this work in 1787. An entirely new map of England and Wales by Jefferys replaces the earlier ones. There is also a large folding triangular distance table engraved by Philip Luckombe (1730-1803). It is not present in the only known example of the first edition under this title of 1776 or in the Cambridge University Library example of this issue cited by Hodson. Hodson records two further issues. In the first the folding chart by Luckombe bears a new imprint of Laurie and Whittle dated 1794 as here. The title remains unaltered and is still dated 1787 but the index is now corrected, Hertfordshire numbered '19' now precedes that of Herefordshire '20'. The three of islands at the end remain out of numerical order. Provenance: signature of J. B. Messenger on first free and paper; private English collection. Chubb (1927) no. 259; Hodson (1984-97) no. 216; refer Shirley (2004) T.Kit 2a (not in BL); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

This map of Cornwall was first issued in 'Kitchin's Pocket Atlass', 1769. Kitchin is one of the most famous of the eighteenth century county map makers, he contributed to several works. Here Kitchin displays some fresh thought with an atlas in which all the maps are drawn to the same scale, indeed the title points this out 'Drawn to One Scale. By which the true proportion they severally bear to each other may be easily ascertained.' The stock of plates for the unsuccessful atlas came in to the possession of Carington Bowles who re-issued them as 'Bowles's Pocket Atlas', c.1778. Here we have an example from the second edition. Hodson 259; Quixley (1966) no. 31.

From the 'London Magazine'. Folded as issued. Right hand margin slim. Thomas Kitchin was one of the most notable English cartographers of the eighteenth century. He was both an engraver and publisher of considerable reputation who was made Hydrographer to King George III. He worked with many of his contemporaries on various projects. His first notable work was the maps for the 'London Magazine' from 1747 to 1760. Jolly, D.C. (Brit Per) Lond-149.

Many earlier carto-bibliographers believed this work to be a later issue of John Senex’s Actual Survey of the Principal Roads first published in 1719. Recent examination has identified that it is actually a new series of plates. The 104 maps were engraved by Thomas Kitchin (1718-84), one of the most notable English cartographers of the eighteenth century. They are drawn very closely from those by Senex. He was both an engraver and publisher of considerable reputation who was made Hydrographer to King George III. He worked with many of his contemporaries on various projects, in this case John Bowles, Carington Bowles and Robert Sayer.Although dated 1767 there is some evidence that the work might have been available in 1766. It was not unusual for works published late in the year to bear the date of that following. In Robert Sayer’s New and Enlarged Catalogue for the Year 1766 he advertised it as ‘fitted up in a portable Manner for the Conveniency of Travellers’. This is supported to some degree by the lack of an address for John Bowles in the imprint. Hodson records that John Bowles had to vacate the Black Horse in Cornhill because of a possible fire, ‘till his house is rebuilt, or another procured’. The actual address in Cornhill in the imprint is blank. When he returned to the street he used the address ‘no. 13’, it is not known if this was the same building or not.It was priced at 7s. 6d. and as was common practice at the time, the first edition is found with two different imprints. In this case that of the Robert Sayer is found after that of the senior John Bowles and his son Carington. The other title is clearly printed at the same time with identical type setting, only the imprint of Sayer’s is placed first. The priority indicates through whose shop this example would have been sold. Provenance: Acquired 2017 from Clive A. Burden Ltd.; private English collection. Bennett (2007) p. 65; Chubb (1927) 141; ESTC T200473; Fordham (1924) p. 27 (erroneously identifying it as a later issue of the Senex); Hodson (1984-1997) p. 187; Shirley (2004) T.Kit 4a; Smith (1991a & b); Worms & Baytnon-Williams (2011).

A small and attractive map of Cornwall, it was first published in an atlas issued in thirteen weekly parts by a consortium of nine publishers, commencing in November 1748. No copy of this version survives, and it seems likely that Jefferys and Kitchin took over the project at an early date. At some point before the publication of the second edition in 1751 alterations were made to some of the plates as seen here. During the issue of the 1751 edition plate numbers were added therefore contents can vary in the states of the maps. This is an example before the addition of plate numbers. The atlas proved popular, running to six editions, with various changes and additions, the last being in 1787. Chubb 193; Hodson 210; Quixley (1966) 31; refer Shirley BL T.Kit 2a (not in BL).

from an unidentified source.

This small and attractive atlas was first published November 1748 in thirteen weekly parts by a consortium of nine publishers. No copy of this version survives and it seems likely that Thomas Jefferys and Thomas Kitchin took over the project at an early date. A first edition of the atlas was published in 1749. At some point before the publication of the second edition in 1751 alterations were made to some of the plates. During the issue of this 1751 edition plate numbers were added therefore the states of the maps can vary. This example of the edition bears 8 maps still unnumbered. Although dated 1751 on the title page the earliest known advertisement for the work appeared in the 'London Daily Advertiser' on 16 May 1752. It was offered for 5s. half-bound or 7s. 6d. bound and coloured. It could be bought at Thomas Jeffery’s shop as well as that of John Boydell in Cheapside and William Herbert at the Golden Globe on London Bridge. The title page itself also indicated that it was for sale in Dublin courtesy of George Faulkner and in Paris with George Louis Le Rouge. Jeffery’s would develop strong connections in Paris. Thomas Kitchin is not identified as a vendor, as at this point in his career he did not have any retail premises. The atlas proved popular, running to 6 editions, with various changes and additions. Provenance: acquired from the Brian Kentish catalogue of 2012, lot 31, for a private English collection. Chubb (1927) 193; Hodson (1984-97) 210; Pedley (1986) pp. 20-23; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

A fine view of Bakhchisaray, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate, by Carl Kügelchen. The artist is named on the print however he may be the same Car-Ferdinand von Kügelgen listed in Benezit as being a landscape artist who was born in 1772 and travelled before settling in St. Petersbourg in 1803. He died in 1832. We have been unable to identify the work this is from. Not in Abbey Travel.

This is a map representing the visit of the French Admiral and explorer, le Comte de La Pérouse to Korea and Japan in 1786. This is from the first English edition of La Perouse's voyage. Cortazzi, H. pl.62 (French ed).; Howes USIana L93; Sabin 38960; Shirley 'Atlases in the BL' G.LPR-2a curiously not listing this chart.

This is a map representing the visit of the French Admiral and explorer, le Comte de La Pérouse to Korea in 1786. This is from the first English edition of La Perouse's voyage. A superb large-scale chart showing the track of La Perouse's expedition in the ships Boussole and Astrolabe. The route from Manila Bay to Taiwan (Formosa), to Korea through the Sea of Japan (named by La Perouse) to the Kuriles reaching southern Kamchatka on September 16, 1787. Jean-Francois de Galoup, Comte de La Perouse led a French scientific expedition to the Pacific in 1785-88. He was one of the most noted naval commanders and navigators in France and was selected by King Louis XVI to complete Captain James Cook's exploration of the western Pacific. In a rare moment of co-operation the British Admiralty furnished scientific equipment to measure variations in magnetic north and for determining longitude. Fortunately for us La Perouse was meticulous in sending copies of his detailed logs and surveying via other ships as well as overland. His last contact was in the spring of 1788 with a British ship in Botany Bay, Australia. The expedition was never heard from again. When the French Government realised that it had been lost they decided to publish an account as in many other ways it is regarded as one the greatest French voyages of exploration. It was not until 1827 that their fate was known. Howes USIana L93; Sabin 38960; Shirley 'Atlases in the BL' G.LPR-3a.