David Loggan's beautiful plan of the city of Oxford from BEN JONSON'S COPY OF THE SPEED ATLAS of 1631. Ben Jonson's (1572- 1637) library is celebrated as being the first of a major literary figure to survive in any great quantity. David McPherson in his 1974 work identifies 206 books, mostly in institutions. The Speed was his only atlas and was 'unquestionably the most luxurious and valuable book he is known to have owned' (Quaritch). The atlas was described as being rebound in the late seventeenth century at which point no doubt this plate by Loggan was inserted. It is an example of the first state of one of the earliest plans of the city as published in Loggan's magnificent 'Oxonia Illustrata' published in Oxford 1675. The book is generally considered one of the finest English engraved topographical works of the seventeenth century. The city is depicted with remarkable accuracy and bears a numbered key to churches, colleges and other major buildings.Loggan (1635-1700?) was born in Danzig and came to England about 1653. By 1665 he was living near Oxford and in 1669 was appointed engraver to the University. In the year the 'Oxonia' was published he married. The work often thought to have been printed at the Sheldonian was in fact run off at Leonard Lichfield's house in Holywell. "No records concerning Jonson's honorary degree from Cambridge or of the Oxford conferral survive, but in July 1619 Jonson was formally inducted into the Oxford degree, and, according to Anthony Wood, spent some time in residence at Christ Church at the invitation of his old friend Richard Corbett (Wood, Ath. Oxon., 1st edn, 1.518). Jonson later extended the circle of his Oxford friendships to include the learned group (of which Hobbes, Chillingworth, and Clarendon, were prominent members) which gathered at the house of Lucius Cary, Lord Falkland, at Great Tew." (ODNB).Provenance: Lord Egerton of Tatton Park, Cheshire; Sotheby's London 14 December 1953 lot 650 (the atlas) for £200 to Gledhill; Bernard Quaritch Ltd., c.1985. Griffiths 'The Print in Stuart Britain 1603-1689' pp. 201-03; McPherson, David (1974) 'Ben Jonson's Library and Marginalia: An Annotated Catalogue', in 'Studies in Philology, 71 no. 176; Shirley 'Atlases in the British Library', T.Spe 1f & 2b; Skelton (1970) 18; Upcott Oxford 34; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

A charming little map focused on the old French Louisiana. This was due to the Treaty of Paris which ended the French and Indian War and granted Britain control westwards up to the Mississippi River. It illustrates the spread of the native Indian tribes across the middle of the continent and the position of several European settlements. Spanish territory in Texas is identified along with just at the right edge of the map Virginia. Engraved by Thomas Kitchin it appeared in the June 1765 issue of the 'London Magazine', one of the newspapers of the day. Jolly, D.C. (Brit Per) LOND-245.

This map falls in to the rich vain that is the De L'Isle - Buache De Fonte controversy. Their cartography was refuted by the important Muller map of 1754 which incorporated the new discoveries of Bering and Tschirikow. Its most recognisable feature is the alluded peninsula form of Alaska. This would be the model for the region until Cook updated the cartography. Despite this he still included the mythical Sea of the West. This version published in the 'London Magazine' in May 1764 was more probably derived from the Thomas Jefferys version of 1761. It shows the tracks of the explorers. Falk (1983) 1764.3; Jolly, D.C. (Brit Per) LOND-237; Kershaw 1121.

A PRESENTATION COPY OF THE FIRST FOLIO PLAN OF NEW YORK published after the American Revolution. It was presented by William Thornton, architect of the Capitol and Commissioner for the development of the city of Washington, to the Comte de Volney, author of the first book on the climate of the United States. New York post warThe City was occupied by the British throughout the American Revolution and was only officially handed over on 25 November 1783. The first US Congress met in 1785 in New York City at Federal Hall on Wall Street, number 1 in the legend of the map. In 1789, the City became the first capital of the United States under the new United States Constitution. The United States of America’s Bill of Rights was drafted and ratified there. George Washington was inaugurated at Federal Hall on 30 April 1789. New York City remained the capital but was found to be inadequate and was transferred to Philadelphia between 1790 and 1800 whilst the new capital of Washington was being constructed. New York continued to position itself for the remarkable growth of the nineteenth century. David LongworthOnly two post war plans were issued earlier than this one. A quarto sized plan of the city was published in ‘The New-York Directory’ for 1789. A later reproduction of similar size was issued by William Duncan in his ‘New-York Directory’ in 1791. This considerably larger one was published by David Longworth (d.1821). In 1796 he began publishing ‘Longworth’s American Almanack, New-York Register, and City Directory’. It would continue publishing under the auspices of his son Thomas through to the 1840s.The map is drawn by ‘J.A. Del’[ineated]. This is identified as John Anderson (d.1798), whose diaries survive in the New York Historical Society. He was an artist, lawyer and brother to Alexander Anderson the engraver. He was also a friend of Washington Irving’s. The diary states in an entry on 21 April 1796 that he ‘began to draw a plan of the city for Mr. Longworth.’ Quite why he turned to Anderson is not clear, no other cartographic work is known by him. On the 3 May he delivered the plan and charged him eight dollars. Longworth turned to the engraver Peter Rushton Maverick (1755-1811) to produce the map. Tooley’s Dictionary describes him as a silversmith and portrait engraver and one of a family of engravers. The ‘New York Daily Advertiser’ for 9 May 1796 announced ‘A large plan of the city of New York, is now engraving for Longworth’s American Almanac and NEW-YORK DIRECTORY. Subscriptions for a few copies of said Plan separate from the Directory, price only four shillings, will be received by the Editor No. 66, Nassau Street’. This slightly contradicts the title page of the Directory which states ‘embellished with an accurate Map of the City’. Certainly, no known example of any of the early editions includes an example of the map. Anderson died in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1798.The PlanThis plan records the city at the beginning of this important period. A table of references on the left identifies 45 places. There are two additions here to the earliest known state. Number 44 is the ‘Flag Staff’ at the old Battery constructed in 1790. The historic Battery itself was dismantled and is here replaced by Government House; a building intended as an executive house for President George Washington. Number 45 is Bunker Hill on Grand Street which has here been extended westwards. The Hill has been re-engraved and marks the sight of the popular but cruel sport of bull baiting. It was also a popular duelling ground. The area is now known as Little Italy. The area at the top of the map north of Grand Street is present day Soho. By the East River, Dover Street marks the present-day site of the Brooklyn Bridge. Further east the shoreline centred on Montgomery St. identifies the site of present-day Pier 36. ‘Willet’s Wf.’ is named for the popular American Revolutionary figure and mayor of New York, Marinus Willett (1740-1830). North Street marks the beginning of the current numeration of streets to the north.Buttonwood AgreementThe Buttonwood Agreement took place purportedly under a Buttonwood Tree on 17 May 1792. It was an attempt to organize the trading of securities in New York. It was signed by 24 stockbrokers outside of 68 Wall Street. There were two main provisions to the agreement. Firstly, they the signatories, would only buy and sell from each other. Secondly that the commission was set at 0.25%. The following year they began conducting their business as in London, at a coffee house called Tontine’s. This is marked on the map as no. 38. It developed into what we now know of as the New York Stock Exchange. Known statesWheat & Brun identifies only works up to 1800 and lists two entries for this plan. Even then they could not identify any examples or even its dimensions. We now know of 5 different states of the map. Of all the issues only about a dozen examples are known in institutions. Of the first state only the New York Public Library and one recently sold by Boston Rare Maps are known. This is likely to be a proof state as it does not bear any imprint below. This therefore may well be the first published state known. An example of this issue is also found in the New York Public Library. Three later dated editions of 1803, 1804 and 1808 are known also.Comte de VolneyThis example comes from Constantin Francois de Chasseboeuf, Comte de Volney (1757-1820), who was a French philosopher and historian whose ‘Ruins of Empires’ was mostly translated secretly by Thomas Jefferson. It was Jefferson who inducted him into the American Philosophical Society. On arrival in America in 1795 he was warmly received by President Washington who, like Thomas Jefferson, was an admirer of France. Their political rival John Adams however distrusted them. ‘The French were becoming even more ruthless towards Americans at sea than had been the British – no other country totally accepted the United States as a viable entity, and both Britain and France still believed they were entitled to most of North America. Many in both countries considered the American experiment would fail’ (Graye). Upon becoming President, John Adams’ suspicions about Volney increased although there is no evidence to support this. There are ten surviving letters between Thornton and Volney which relate their close friendship. Thornton aware of his position in Washington had to tread a careful line. They both ‘shared similar enlightened ideals about universal education’ (Graye).Provenance: presented as part of a portfolio of maps by William Thornton to Comte Volney acquired 15 May 1984; Burden Collection. Boston Rare Maps; Graye, Michelle (2014) ‘Thomas Jefferson’s Washington Architect: William B. Thornton’, Monticello West pp. 196-7; Stokes (1915-28) vol. V April 1803; Tooley’s Dictionary; Wheat & Brun 391 & 395.

From the "New Pocket Atlas and Geography of England and Wales" by John Luffman (fl.1776-1820). He had a varied career being a publisher, engraver, goldsmith, author and geographer. This is his most noted work being distinctive in format and very desirable. This is an example of the second state which can also be found in the first edition of the atlas. Chubb 308.

John Luffman (1751-1821) had a varied career being a publisher, engraver, goldsmith, author and geographer. He also became bankrupt in 1793 but appears to have recovered. His earliest recorded work is the engraving of the road strips for Taylor and Skinner's 'Survey and Maps of the Roads of North Britain' in 1776. In 1779, he was the engraver of Prior's large scale map of Leicestershire and in 1781 he was the engraver of Armstrong's large scale map of Rutland. Later in his career he became a publisher in his own right specialising in smaller maps and atlases such as the ‘Select Plans of the Ports and Harbours of the World’ (1800-1803). These curious circular engravings of the counties of England and Wales are his most noted work and accompanied a geographical text. A rare atlas that has always been desired by collectors. It was first published in 1803 by Luffman as a 'New Pocket Atlas and Geography of England and Wales'. A further issue was published in the same year, the maps in which are all in their second state, but by 1806 ownership had passed to the firm of Lackington, Allen & Co. This firm was founded in 1774 by James Lackington from Somerset as a shoemaker. From there he moved temporarily to Bristol where he first began buying books at market stalls. It is stated he was to ashamed to enter bookshops! A legacy of £10 enabled him to rent a shop in London from where he started selling both shoes and books. Soon he focused on the books and by 1803 their catalogue contained 800,000 books! Lackington retired in 1798 and died 1815. The firm finally closed when George Lackington retired in 1826. Refer Batten & Bennett (1996) 66; refer Carroll (1996) 59; Chubb (1927) 308; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

AN UNCUT EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST STATE. No other example has been on the market since 2006. John Luffman (fl.1776-1820) had a varied career being a publisher, engraver, goldsmith, author and geographer. He was apprenticed to John Bayly in the Goldsmiths Company and made free in 1773. His earliest recorded work is the engraving some of the road strips for George Taylor and Andrew Skinner’s Survey and Maps of the Roads of North Britain in 1776. In 1779, he was the engraver of John Prior’s large-scale map of Leicestershire and in 1781 did the same for Captain Andrew Armstrong’s large-scale map of Rutland. He visited Antigua in 1786-88 and published an account in 1789. By 1793 though, he became bankrupt but appears to have recovered. Later in his career he became a publisher in his own right specialising in smaller maps and atlases such as the Select Plans of the Ports and Harbours of the World (1800-1803).These curious circular engravings of the counties of England and Wales are his most noted work and accompanied a geographical text. A rare atlas that has always been desired by collectors. This first edition was published in 1803 by Luffman as a New Pocket Atlas and Geography of England and Wales. A further issue was issued later in the same year where the maps all appear in their second state. The difference can be found in the location of the plate numbers above the map. In the first issue they are some distance above the round borders nearer the plate edge and are often found cropped in binding. In the second issue they were re-engraved closer to the upper edge of the border. Each map contains the chief towns, roads and boundaries. No physical features are recorded at all. Pasted to the half title of this example is an attached paper label stating, 'Scotland and Ireland, to correspond with this work, will be published early in 1804'. No such work is known to have been published. Provenance: manuscript ownership inscription of R. J. Alser inside front cover; private English collection; Clive A. Burden Ltd. 1997; private English collection; Clive A. Burden Ltd. (2012) Catalogue IX item 63; private English collection. Refer Batten & Bennett (2008) no. 66; refer Carroll (1996) 59; Chubb (1927) 309; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

John Luffman (1751-1821) had a varied career being a publisher, engraver, goldsmith, author and geographer. He also became bankrupt in 1793 but appears to have recovered. His earliest recorded work is the engraving of the road strips for Taylor and Skinner's 'Survey and Maps of the Roads of North Britain' in 1776. In 1779, he was the engraver of Prior's large scale map of Leicestershire and in 1781 he was the engraver of Armstrong's large scale map of Rutland. Later in his career he became a publisher in his own right specialising in smaller maps and atlases such as the ‘Select Plans of the Ports and Harbours of the World’ (1800-1803). These curious circular engravings of the counties of England and Wales are his most noted work and accompanied a geographical text. A rare atlas that has always been desired by collectors. It was first published in 1803 by Luffman as a 'New Pocket Atlas and Geography of England and Wales'. A further issue was published in the same year, the maps in which are all in their second state, but by 1806 ownership had passed to the firm of Lackington, Allen & Co. This firm was founded in 1774 by James Lackington from Somerset as a shoemaker. From there he moved temporarily to Bristol where he first began buying books at market stalls. It is stated he was to ashamed to enter bookshops! A legacy of £10 enabled him to rent a shop in London from where he started selling both shoes and books. Soon he focused on the books and by 1803 their catalogue contained 800,000 books! Lackington retired in 1798 and died 1815. The firm finally closed when George Lackington retired in 1826. This is an example of the second state in which the plate number is nearer the map image. Refer Batten & Bennett (1996) 66; refer Carroll (1996) 59; Chubb (1927) 308; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

This is a 'modern' map of Egypt and the lower reaches of the Nile from the first edition of Magini's edition of Ptolemy's 'Geography'. This is distinguished by the lack of text below the map. Magini was from Padua and would later publish an atlas of Italy. The maps in this work are expertly engraved by Girolamo Porro and are particularly detailed and attractive. There were later editions in 1598 and 1622. Shirley 'Atlases in BL' T.Ptol-12a; Nordenskiold 223.

From the Cologne edition of Magini's issue of Ptolemy's 'Geography'. Magini was from Padua and would later publish an atlas of Italy. The maps in this work are expertly printed by Peter Keschedt and are particularly detailed and attractive. Shirley cited them as being 'more florid than the Venice plates'. This particular map is of the Arabian peninsula. Meurer, P.H. 'Cologne' Mag 1; Shirley 'Atlases in BL' T.Ptol-13a; Nordenskiold 224.