A fine map of ancient Egypt after the cartography of D'Anville. Robert Holmes Laurie succeeded to the business of Laurie and Whittle upon his father's death in 1812. In 1818 Whittle died leaving him in sole control.

The firm of Laurie and Whittle relied heavily on the plates of Robert Sayer acquired following his death in 1794. Often thought of as mere publishers, Robert Laurie (1755-1836) was a noted craftsman. He was a talented mezzotint engraver who invented a method of mezzotint printing in colour, an achievement that won him an award from the Royal Society of Arts in 1776. In the early 1790s he entered the publishing business with James Whittle (1757-1818) as his partner. The acquisition of Sayer’s stock catapulted them into the major league. In 1806 they published a road book entitled the Laurie and Whittle’s New Traveller’s Companion which included 24 road maps. They were compiled by Nathaniel Coltman who, working for the Post Office was perfectly placed to produce them. Engraved by Joseph Bye, Edward Jones, Benjamin Smith and W. West, they covered territory as far as the Isle of Wight and Scotland. The format was a change from the past which up to now had largely followed the strip map format devised by John Ogilby in 1675. Coltman produces here, clear maps which cover larger areas for easier reference. The maps are strictly functional concentrating just on roads and distances, the earlier use of nearby features such as churches and hills are omitted. It was a success with a number of editions following and alterations were constantly made to the plates to bring them up-to-date. In 1810 two editions were published, a fourth and a fifth. For the first of these a 25th plate was engraved which extended the coverage of the west coast northwards into Scotland as far as Glasgow. For this edition the previous engraved title is replaced with a typographic one. Provenance: manuscript inscription of E. A. L. Fenner on front original free endpaper; label pasted inside front cover of 'Edwin Fenner, Chemist and Dentist, New Shoreham', he is listed in the 1881 census with that profession at 134 Clarence Place as born in 1834, Sydenham, Kent; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 136-9; Carroll (1996) Appendix no. 16; Chubb (1927) 343; Fordham (1924) p. 51.

The firm of Laurie and Whittle relied heavily on the plates of Robert Sayer which were acquired following his death in 1794. Often thought of as mere publishers Robert Laurie (1755-1836) was a noted craftsman. He was a talented mezzotint engraver who invented a method of mezzotint printing in colour, an achievement that won him an award from the Royal Society of Arts in 1776. In the early 1790s he entered the publishing business with James Whittle (1757-1818) as his partner. The acquisition of Sayer’s stock catapulted them into the major league. In 1806 they published a road book entitled the 'Laurie and Whittle’s New Traveller’s Companion' which included road maps. They were compiled by Nathaniel Coltman who, working for the Post Office was perfectly placed to produce them. Engraved by Joseph Bye, Edward Jones, Benjamin Smith and W. West they covered territory as far as the Isle of Wight and Scotland. The format was a change from the past which until first published had largely followed the strip map format devised by John Ogilby in 1675. Coltman produces here clear maps which cover larger areas for easier reference. The maps are strictly functional concentrating just on roads and distances, the earlier use of nearby features such as churches and hills is omitted. It was a success with a number of editions following and alterations were constantly made to the plates to bring them up-to-date. In 1812 Robert Laurie retired and was replaced in the partnership by his son Richard Holmes Laurie and the firm changed its name to Whittle and Laurie. Then in 1818 James Whittle died and the firm became known as that of R. H. Laurie. The firm still exists today under the name Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd. This example is the penultimate edition, the final issue being in 1846. The general map bears an imprint dated 1840. Carroll reports the same in another example. Found in the pocket at the end is a folding sheet in French with a table of routes in Germany. Provenance: with manuscript inscription of ‘Geo Stockwell’ on the title page. Beresiner (1983) pp. 136-9; Carroll (1996) Appendix no. 16; Fordham (1924) p. 51 (this edition not listed); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

A fine decorative map of the whole of France as divided according to the National Assembly into eighty-three Departments in 1790. This map appeared in Laurie & Whittle's 'New and Elegant Imperial Sheet Atlas'. Shirley BL Atlases T.Lau 1a no. 18.

An example of Laurie and Whittle's map of Portugal and the Algarve. A beautiful title cartouche. Shirley BL T.Lau-1a 20.

A fine panoramic view of the ruins of Persepolis, Persia. Cornelis Le Bruyn left the Netherlands on his second journey in 1701. He travelled first to Russia for a year before going on to Persia. He spent another year at Isfahan before a further 3 months at Persepolis recording the ruins and inscriptions. In 1705 he travelled on to the East Indies before returning home in 1708. Brunet III 911.

A fine panoramic view of the ruins of Persepolis, Persia. Cornelis Le Bruyn left the Netherlands on his second journey in 1701. He travelled first to Russia for a year before going on to Persia. He spent another year at Isfahan before a further 3 months at Persepolis recording the ruins and inscriptions. In 1705 he travelled on to the East Indies before returning home in 1708. Brunet III 911.

A fine large map of the island of Jersey with original colour delineating each of the island's parishes. All of the roads and lanes are also depicted along with churches, mills, rectories and the barracks. Distance mile stones are recorded along the routes. The key tells us that the, 'distances indicated by the various Mile-Stones, are taken from the Royal Square St. Helier's'. In 1864 the States of Jersey passed a law authorising the construction of the island's first railway. This standard gauge line was constructed, connecting St. Helier to St. Aubin, and the first train ran 25 October 1870. This railway was not a success and the company declared bankruptcy in 1874. The railway continued to operate but passed through a succession of proprietors until 1883.Meanwhile, the owner of a granite quarry near La Moye had petitioned to build a railway linking his quarry to St. Aubin. This law passed in June 1871 and the St Aubin & La Moye Railway commenced construction to the narrow gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm). This line too, ran into financial problems and although construction trains ran on the section from La Moye to Pont Marquet, the company declared bankruptcy in 1878 before completion or opening to the public.In 1883 the Jersey Railway and the partially completed St Aubin & La Moye Railway were amalgamated into the Jersey Railways Company Limited. The St. Helier to St. Aubin line was relaid to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge and the railway re-opened to passengers on 15 March 1884, initially operating as two separate sections until the two lines were connected at St. Aubin in 1885 to form a complete railway. The first through service ran between St Helier and La Corbière on 5 August 1885. This railway too hit financial difficulties and in 1895 entered voluntary liquidation. In 1896 a new company, the Jersey Railways and Tramways Co. Ltd. was formed to take over the assets of the failed company. The railway was improved, with an extension to La Corbière Pavilion opening in 1899 and was successful up to the outbreak of the First World War.

George Louis Le Rouge was a military engineer who took up cartography from about 1740. This work is a French edition of 'An Actual Survey ... of the Principal Roads' by John Senex first published in London, 1719. This work consists of three parts all of which had been issued in earlier editions. Louis Charles Desnos (1725-1805) was a noted mapmaker, globe maker and publisher in Paris. Desnos was not the most successful of Parisian publishers, he went bankrupt in 1784. Despite being appointed globe maker to the King of Denmark he spent most of his life in Paris. He had a particular penchant for road books producing a number of France. The first part of this work consists of a general map of England and Wales in twelve sheets which is entitled 'Partie Meridionale de la Grande Bretagne … a Londres Chez T. Jefferis … 1760'. The second was first published in 1759 as 'Les Routes D’Ogilby par l’Angleterre' and comprises 101 plates of road strips preceded by an unaltered general map of England and Wales. Desnos was not known for his originality and here he just acquired the plates first issued by George Louis Le Rouge. Some minor alterations were made for instance in the first plate a note in French is added beneath. The engraved title page is reissued with alteration to the French title, it now reads 'Itineraire De Toutes Les Routes De L’Angleterre …' It ends by removing the name of Le Rouge '… Ouvrage traduit de l’Anglois. A Paris, Chez le Sr. Desnos … 1766'. The English title is unaltered with just the imprint changed to 'For Desnos, Geographer, at the Globe St. James Street'. It is followed by the same presumably remaining preliminary leaves of text here rotated to enable viewing upright.The third and final part is entitled 'Recueil des Villes Ports D’Angleterre Tire des Grands Plans de Rocque et du Portuland de l’Angleterre du Sr. Belin' and is a fine work containing a series of town plans and views. The first is a double page plan of London preceded by a Table or key to it. This third part was first issued under the same title in 1759 by Le Rouge. The beautiful arms featuring a large central peacock are those of Guillaume Gabriel Pavee of Vendeuvre (1779-1870), born in Troye, a French politician and peer who served on the National Assembly for many years. His library was only dispersed at auction about ten years ago. Provenance: bearing the large ornate gilt embossed arms on the covers of Guillaume Gabriel Pavee of Vendeuvre; private English collection. Carroll (1996) Appendix no. 8; Chubb (1927) 143; Fordham (1924) p. 27 (not recognising them as a later edition of the Le Rouge); Phillips (1909-) 2918; Shirley (2004) T.Desn 3a.

George Louis Le Rouge was a military engineer who took up cartography from about 1740. This work is a French edition of An Actual Survey ... of the Principal Roads by John Senex first published in London, 1719. First published in 1759 the French plates appear to have passed in to the hands of the publisher Louis Charles Desnos who like Le Rouge, offered them with dual language titles. Despite being appointed globe maker to the King of Denmark he spent most of his life in Paris. He had a particular penchant for road books producing a number of France. As the title of this work states it is in fact three books bound as one each with title page. The first is a general map of England and Wales, the second bears the road strips, the third entitled Recueil des Villes Ports D’Angleterre Tire des Grands Plans de Rocque et du Portuland de l’Angleterre du Sr. Belin is a fine work containing a series of town plans. The road strips are here updated with new additional notes in some cases. The introductory text leaves are rotated to enable viewing upright. Provenance: French ownership inscription with stamp nearby ‘MC’ dated 1791 on the title page; Professor E. G. R. Taylor with her pencil signature front flyleaf (author of carto-bibliographies); Birkbeck College (bookplate stamped sold by order); Sotheby’s 1990; private English Collection; acquired by Clive A. Burden Ltd. 1996; Adrian Almond Collection; Dominic Winter Auctions 19 June 2013 lot 62; private English collection. Carroll Appendix no. 8; Chubb 143; Fordham p. 27 (not recognising them as a later edition of the Le Rouge); Phillips 2918; Shirley BL T.Desn 3a.