Emanuel Bowen was one of the most prominent figures in English cartography during the middle of the eighteenth century. Since the highly influential ‘Britannia’ by John Ogilby had been first published in 1675 no smaller version had been issued. Then in the period 1718-20 a flush of four projects were conceived, three of which were completed. In 1720 Owen and Bowen’s ‘Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv’d’ was published. This was unquestionably the most successful. It is the only one of the three to include a set of county maps with the road strips. The author of the text was John Owen an antiquarian who had been admitted to the Middle Temple in 1718. Although known as the Owen and Bowen atlas it was in fact published jointly by Bowen and John Bowles. It had a long life running to numerous editions. Carroll (1996) 23; Chubb (1927) 152; Hodson (1984-97) 157; Shirley (2004) T.Bow 1h; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

A fabulous detailed plan of the towns with all the roads named. An example of this map is found in Parsons’ Hastings, St. Leonards, and District Directory and Local Red Book for 1894 at the British Library. The reverse bears a small advert for Beck’s Compound Hop Tonic Bitters.

This fine detailed lithographic map depicts the route to Kathmandu, the capital of present day Nepal and in the heart of the Himalayas. It was published in Gotha by J. Perthes. Petermann arrived at the Gotha in 1854 to join the published company of Perthes. He founded and produced the famous journal named after him. This is an early production. Dreyer-Eimbcke IMCoS Journal 70 pp. 19-27.

George Philip (1800-82) was born in Aberdeenshire and left in 1819 for Liverpool. He joined his brother who was a minister in the city. He began working with a bookseller before opening his own shop in 1834. His son George joined him in 1848. This series of county maps were according to Chubb first issued as ‘Philip’s Tourist’s Companion’ in 1858. The earliest edition he cites of this title is 1860. However, it appears that this atlas was issued with and without the ‘Tourist’s Companion’. This therefore is the first edition the atlas. There appear to be later editions of 1860, 1870 and 1882.Provenance: with ownership inscription on the title of ‘? Angus’; private English collection acquired 2014. Chubb (1927) p. 398 no. 44; Smith (1985) pp. 147-9.

Thomas Philipott’s ‘Villare Cantianum’ in its first edition of 1659 has become a rare book. A key work in the history of the county of Kent it is also renowned for bearing a later state of Philip Symonson’s large two-sheet map of the county. Although the author is stated to be Thomas Philipott it is recognized that much of the work was that of his father John (1589-1645) who was born in Folkestone. He would become MP for Sandwich and was a royalist during the Civil War. He wrote ‘The New Description of Kent’ which was never published and it is this which is believed to have formed much of his son’s work. Thomas (d.1682) spent much of his life in Greenwich.Philip Symonson’s map of Kent first published in 1596 is generally considered to be the FIRST PRINTED LARGE SCALE MAP OF AN ENGLISH COUNTY. Barber describes it as ‘one of the most sophisticated maps to be produced in England under Elizabeth.’ Symonson (d.1598). The two sheet map was engraved by Charles Whitwell (fl.1593-1611) a maker of mathematical instruments who was apprenticed to Augustine Ryther in 1582. In 1590 he became a freeman of the Grocer’s Company. He was also the engraver of a recently discovered small silver globe, the earliest surviving made in England. When Robert Dudley fled to Italy in 1606 it is known that he took ten of his instruments. Only two complete examples of the first state are known; in the British Library and the British Museum. As did so much material of the day the copper plates ended up in the hands of Peter Stent sometime around 1645 when he at first added his imprint. Of this only three examples are recorded. A third state was prepared in 1659 for inclusion in Thomas Philipot’s work. For this he employed the services of the great Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-77). Pennington describes the engraver in glowing terms: ‘Of all etchers, Hollar is certainly the most varied in subject, one of the most accomplished in technique, and with a style that is full of a charm, a humour, and a good nature that are evidently the character of the man himself’. He was born in Prague and made his way to England in the party of Lord Arundel arriving in London in late December 1636. For the upper right of the map Hollar etched a panorama of Dover Castle and upper left one of Rye. The latter is after a painting by the great seventeenth century court painter Sir Anthony van Dyck (22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641). Pennington states that the original van Dyck painting was in the possession of Sir Bruce Ingram (1877-1963) editor of the Illustrated London News. It is now in the Pierpont Morgan Library, New York. The fourth state of eight included here erases the old date and replaces it with Stent's address and the date 1659, arguably the final version for the book. The map was of such significance in its day that it was often removed from the book, as originally here, particularly since it displayed the roads. Provenance: bookplate of John Austin Esq.; manuscript ownership inscription of 'John Austin of Broadford' in the margin of the title page & another p. 3 dated 1753; private English collection. Barber, Peter, ‘Mapmaking in England, ca. 1470-1650’ in ‘History or Cartography’ vol. 3 pt. 2 p. 1631; Burgess (2009) 4.vi; DNB; ESTC R35386; Globe (1985) no. 343a; Hind (1952-55) I. pp. 223-4; Pennington (1982) no. 665; Rodger (1972) no. 209; STC 23594.5; Upcott (1968) p. 352; Worms (2007) p. 1713; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011 p. 719.

By the early nineteenth century it had become increasingly popular for the British people to visit seaside resorts and spas. As might be expected this market was met with works such as this to guide them in their choice. Published by Richard Phillips the author is believed to be John Feltham. The 'Guide to all the Watering and Sea-Bathing Places' was first published in 1803 with 434 pages. This expanded edition as noted in the two page advertisement includes 500 pages. It is dated 1806 from the addition of this date to the Advertisement. The price of the first edition was 12s. in boards. it must have proved popular as this second edition was increased in price to 'Price 13s. in boards; or, 14s. Bound in Red' as noted on the title page. The book is heavily illustrated and includes a large initial folding view of Bath followed by a plan of the town and a further panorama of Ramsgate. Richard Phillips (1767-1840) was an author and publisher born in London. He began business in 1790 as a stationer and bookseller. COPAC; ODNB; Smith (1985) p. 75.

A beautifully engraved large-scale map of the county of Staffordshire. Surveyed by John Phillips and W. F. Hutchings in 1831-32, the map was published by Henry Teesdale in only the one edition. A large detailed 'Explanation' and 'Note' appear lower left. The latter details the population of the county at 410,485 living in an area measuring 1218 square miles. Railways are also recorded, notably the first begun in 1778 between Froghall and Cauldon Low. The whole is engraved by John Dower to a scale of three quarter of an inch to one mile. A fine engraved view of Lichfield Cathedral. King 'Maps of Staffordshire' no. 90; Rodger 409.

James Pigot (1769-1843) was born in Macclesfield and is first recorded in 1794 as an engraver and printer in Manchester. He engraved the map of Manchester for R. & W. Dean’s 'Manchester Directory' of 1804. In 1811 he began his own business but continued to issue the 'Manchester Directory' every two years in partnership with Dean. Moving to London, he opened premises at 24 Basing Lane and began publishing directories of the whole country. At this point he was trading as Pigot & Co. in partnership with the bookseller Charles Elkins of London. The partnership’s first directory was the 'London and Provincial New Directory' for 1822-23. The third edition of 1826-27 was according to the title ‘embellished with a new series of Elegant Maps ...’ however, it only contained those of the six home counties. Three parts were issued covering the whole country. An advert in 1829 indicated that the full series of maps were available bound up separately in an atlas. The is an example of the first dated edition, October 1830. The maps are believed to be derived from the folio maps of John Cary published in 1809. They are the first engraved on steel and each contains attractive vignette scenes of the county. Steel is a much harder metal than copper which enabled greater detail to be recorded on the map. It was also feasible to print in greater numbers without showing signs of wear. Beresiner (1983) pp. 177-80; Carroll (1996) 88; Chubb (1927) 427; Darlington & Howgego (1964) no. 341.(3); Smith (1982) pp. 187-9; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

James Pigot (1769-1843) began as an engraver and printer in Manchester before moving to London. In 1811, he began his own business and concentrated from 1822 on publishing directories of the whole country. In 1826-27 he published one of the Home Counties which was according to the title ‘embellished with a new series of Elegant Maps ...’. An advert in 1829 indicated that the full series of maps were available bound up separately as the 'British Atlas'. Perhaps following his partnership with Isaac Slater in 1839, this set of reduced sized maps was issued in fortnightly parts. The final work was issued as 'A Pocket Topography' and is undated. However, there are numerous references to events and data from 1841 and the last part issued was in August of that year. The Preface outlines the reasoning for the binding order ‘the publishers of the Pocket Topography, deemed it more convenient for travellers, to prevent the necessity of taking both volumes with them on a journey, to divide the Kingdom into two nearly equal portions, and to place the Northern and Midland Counties in one Volume; and the Southern, South-eastern, and South-western in the other’. In each they are bound in alphabetical order, Leicestershire and Rutland appearing in one map. The title supports this stating ‘Price, each Volume, 12s. 6d. Beresiner (1983) pp. 177-80; Burden, E. (2000); Carroll (1996) 108; refer Chubb (1927) 462.

William Pinnock (1782-1843) was baptised in Alton, Hampshire, on 3 February 1782 and began his career as a schoolmaster. He then became a bookseller in Alton and wrote his first book in 1810. At the time, levels of literacy in the nation were rising rapidly, creating a large new market for educational material. He moved his business to Newbury, Berkshire, in 1811 and in December 1814 married Ann Maunder, sister to Samuel Maunder (1785-1849) from Devon. In 1817 the pair went into partnership and moved to London acquiring the ‘premises of the Literary Gazette at 267 Strand and took shares in that publication’ (ODNB). They began to publish a series of highly successful catechisms in Pinnock’s name, constructed in the manner of questions and answers. From about 1819 he began a series entitled Pinnock’s County Catechisms. The first part of the Guide to Knowledge was published 7 July 1832. It was to be issued in weekly parts at one penny each and it was recommended that it be acquired by 'the numbers as they are published, or in Monthly Parts, in order to bind them together in a Volume'. Such is the case here with the first seventeen monthly parts including parts 1 to 87.The Address states 'its pages are chiefly devoted to the practical or speculative Sciences: Ethics and Physics, or Moral and Natural Philosophy'. The last part was dated 26 December 1835, a total of 209 numbers. Included with the series were many maps, 32 of countries of the world, a complete celestial atlas and a full set of county maps accompanied by 15 plans of British towns. On top of this are hundreds of further engravings.The maps engraved for the Guide to Knowledge are unique amongst English county atlases in that they are incised into the woodblock, so that upon printing the image is white on a black background. The maps were the work of Joshua Archer (1792?-1863) and Selena Hall (fl.1831-53, the widow of the engraver Sidney Hall). Provenance: with French annotations to front free endpaper on the book's cost and binding; private English collection; Beresiner (1983) p. 181; Burden, Webb & Burgess (1991); Carroll (1996) 98; not in Chubb (1927).