This map of Hertfordshire is from William Camden’s 'Britannia' first published in 1586. It was the last to be published in his lifetime and the first to be illustrated with county maps although this had been contemplated since at least 1589. Camden (1551-1623) was an antiquary and historian. An academic by profession he would become the headmaster of Westminster School in 1593. He spent much of his time travelling and collecting material for his highly respected 'Britannia'. An example of the first edition first state. Chubb 18; Hodson 6.2; Shirley BL T.Camd 1a; Skelton 5; Taylor 'Late Tudor and Early Stuart Geography' pp. 9- 13.

The original Saxton plate was prepared in 1577, the busiest year of production with twelve maps so dated. The presence of Saxton’s name on the Burghley proof example led Evans and Lawrence to conclude that the Monmouth was one of those produced later in the year. The plate is unsigned and has not been attributed to any particular engraver. As explained above when Philip Lea acquired the maps he appears to have produced them in two distinct states. The earlier issue is dated to c.1689 and survives in just three known examples. This is an example of this RARE EARLIER STATE before the addition of the roads after John Ogilby and the arms of James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, which would occupy the right hand shield.Philip Lea flourished 1666-1700 as a cartographer, globe and instrument maker and map seller. His atlases were rarely uniform usually being made to order and his editions of Saxton’s atlas are similarly varying in content although built around his stock of the original plates. These he acquired sometime around 1689, but from whom is unknown. The fate of some of the plates is unclear but two, Devon and Northumberland, never reappear suggesting that they might have been lost in the Fire. They were replaced by a plate engraved for Lea; that of Devon is signed by Francis Lamb and is offered here under Philip Lea. That of Essex appears to have been unavailable for reasons unknown as Lea issued another. However the original was eventually acquired as examples of Lea’s second edition often utilise the Saxton plate. Middlesex was first replaced by John Ogilby’s plate of the county c.1673 which had been acquired by Lea. Then Lea acquired five county’s published by John Seller which included a Middlesex, he tended to prefer Seller’s version. Kent was not bought. Lea had acquired the county maps of Seller by 1693 as the Whitaker copy of the Saxton-Lea atlas can be securely dated to that year and contains the five maps. After acquisition of the Saxton plates Lea set about updating them for publication. This process involved extensive re-engraving of the old plates by incorporating new geographical and decorative material. However during this process some copies of the atlas were sold and two distinct issues have been identified with two different versions of the title page. The early edition dated to c.1689 survives in just three known examples. Lea gradually effected the alterations to the plates he desired which included converting the remaining Latin titles to English, the addition of crowns, crosses and mitres to represent various categories of town. Roads were added to the maps following the publication of John Ogilby’s landmark 'Britannia' in 1675. Similarly Hundreds were added to the remaining maps as were town plans. The finished set of plates were completed by 1693 and represent their final cartographic form as only the imprints were altered after this date. In the finished form they also appeared in a French edition entitled 'Atlas Anglois contenant Les Cartes Nouvelles tres Exactes …' surviving in a unique example. Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 50-3, 61 & 160; Shirley (2004)) T.Sax 1h; Skelton (1970) nos. 110, 112 & 113.

From the first fully illustrated edition of Camden's classic work, the 'Britannia'. An example of the third state. Refer to Skelton no. 5.

The first printed map of Nottinghamshire from the first fully illustrated edition of William Camden's classic work, the 'Britannia'. An example of the FIRST STATE from the FIRST edition. Refer to Skelton no. 5.

Saxton’s map of Pembroke was one of the last five engraved. A later edition of the map listed previously sold by George Willdey. In his possession George Willdey applied his imprint top centre; here it is removed with only faint remains by Thomas Jefferys. The impression is quite strong.Thomas Willdey successor to George Willdey died in 1748 and the business was closed as there were many creditors. It would seem logical to assume that it was sometime shortly after that Thomas Jefferys acquired them. Only two years earlier he had been appointed Geographer to the Prince of Wales and was just finding his feet. He began his esteemed career as an engraver and turned to publishing. No doubt these plates came his way at a tempting price. The atlas was not advertised and it would seem that Jefferys was content to sell the maps loose only binding a collection of the maps on request. Certainly this is supported by the fact that only FOUR EXAMPLES SURVIVE. An extremely rare edition. Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 53-8 & 163; Hodson (1984-97) I no. 184; Shirley (2004) T.Sax 1h.

A fine example of one of the rarest states of the Christopher Saxton map of Radnor, Brecon, Cardigan and Caermarthen. With inset plans of Caermarthen, Breknoke, Radnor and Cardigan. Only five examples of the atlas survive. At first glance one might be inclined to think this is the Philip Lea edition however closer examination reveals the presence of George Willdey's imprint lower right. The date of the death of Philip Lea’s widow Anne is unknown but on 5 August 1730 the "Daily Journal" carried an advertisement announcing the sale by auction of "all the Copper Plates belonging to the Estate of Mrs. Anne Lea, deceased ... with all the County Maps of Great Britain and Ireland". From 1709 early in his career Willdey was advertising maps for sale. Willdey’s first advertisement announcing the county plates was placed in the Daily Post for 3 February 1732 (illustrated in Hodson I p. 142). They were sold individually for 4d. each. In none his adverts up to his death in November 1737 does he mention the county maps be bound as an atlas with a title-page. However in 1721 when advertising his series of two sheet maps he stated that ‘This Set of Maps may be fitted up several ways and sizes, or bound in a Book, or sold single, to fit Gentlemens Conveniency ...’ It can be assumed that he would be just as accommodating with the single sheet county maps and that therefore a c.1732 date is reasonable for the atlas.Willdey’s last advert was placed in the 'Daily Post', 12 November 1737, which carried in its news columns the announcement that ‘Yesterday Morning died of an Apopletick Fit, Mr. Willdey, who kept the noted great Toyshop at the Corner of Ludgate-street by St. Paul’s; said to have died very rich.’ Curiously although all the newspapers agreed he died on 11 November his will is signed 12 November. The business was continued by Thomas Willdey although it is not clear whether this his George’s brother, or son. Thomas died in 1748 and the business was closed as there were many creditors. Hodson I no. 183; Shirley 'Atlases in the British Library', T.Sax 1j; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

Surveyed in 1577 by Christopher Saxton this map remains a classic to this day. It was engraved by Remigius Hogenberg whose imprint is lower left. Hogenberg was a native of Mechelen and brother to the famous Frans Hogenberg who co-published the ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’. Christopher Saxton had just received his licence which encouraged him to produce 12 maps this year, the busiest. Those produced later in the year most likely after his licence was approved are only known in the one state with Saxton's name present. Those issued in the first part of the year including this one are known in 'proof' states lacking his name. Christopher Saxton produced one of the earliest national surveys of any kind and the first uniformly conceived cartographic survey of England and Wales. It was begun in about 1574 and completed by 1579: ‘in the long list of British atlases the first name is also the greatest, the name of Christopher Saxton’ (Chubb). Saxton (c.1542–c.1610) was born in the Dunningley, West Riding of Yorkshire. While the details of his early life are sketchy, it is known that he attended Cambridge University, and in 1570 he was apprenticed as a map maker to John Rudd, vicar of Dewsbury. Saxton began work on his county maps in about 1574. In 1577 he received letters patent from Elizabeth I protecting his maps against plagiarism for the next ten years. As well as the Queen’s protection, Saxton also enjoyed the patronage of Thomas Seckford, Master of the Queen’s Requests, whose mottoes are found on the maps. Evans and Lawrence wrote that he ‘left a legacy of maps of the counties of England and Wales from which succeeding generations of map-makers drew extensively … amazingly accurate in detail, [the atlas] survives as testimony to his expertise when surveying techniques and comprehension of the mathematical sciences were still limited.’ They are arguably the most highly prized by collectors of county maps. William Web (fl.1629-52) was a bookseller from Oxford. In 1645 he published 'The Maps of all the Shires in England and Wales. Exactly taken and truly described by Christopher Saxton'. The imprint states 'Printed for William Web at the Globe in Cornehill, London', despite Web being a bookseller in Oxford. Quite how he came into possession of the Saxton plates is unknown. The fact that the court of Charles I was in Oxford for the duration of the Civil War (1642-46) and the atlas is dedicated to the King can be no coincidence. The war undoubtedly caused a delay as most maps bear the date of 1642 despite the title imprint being 1645. Because it did not have the same impact and no doubt because of the Civil War this edition of Saxton’s atlas is one of the rarest surviving in ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES. Provenance: private English collection. Barber ‘Mapmaking in England, ca.1470-1650’ in The History of Cartography volume 3 part 2 pp. 1623-31; Chubb (1927) I; Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 9–43, 45-7 & 59 no. 2; Harley, Brian 'The Map Collector' no. 8 pp. 2-11; Hind (1952-55) vol. 1 p. 73; Lawrence, Heather ‘Christopher Saxton’ in 'The Map Collector' 27 pp. 16-18; Shirley (1980) no. 128; Shirley (2004) T.Sax 1g; Skelton (1970) 27; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

Highly decorative, and desirable early county map. This example is from the preferred second edition of William Camden's 'Britannia' of 1610. here the text is omitted from the verso and the map is still in its first state before the addition of a plate number. Needell (1995) 23; Skelton (1970) 5.

Christopher Saxton’s plate of the south-east, including Kent, Surrey and Sussex, was quite likely the first of the six to be produced in 1575 as he worked his way westwards along the south coast. It was the work of the engraver Remigius Hogenberg and was replaced by maps of the individual counties around 1693 by Philip Lea. The original plate however was somehow not destroyed although one would assume the sales were dramatically less and the number of surviving copies reflects this. The date of the death of Philip Lea’s widow Anne is unknown, but on 5 August 1730 the 'Daily Journal' carried an advertisement announcing the sale by auction of "all the Copper Plates belonging to the Estate of Mrs. Anne Lea, deceased ... with all the County Maps of Great Britain and Ireland". From 1709 early in his career Willdey was advertising maps for sale. Willdey’s first advertisement announcing the county plates was placed in the 'Daily Post' for 3 February 1732 (illustrated in Hodson I p. 142). They were sold individually for 4d. each. In none his adverts, up to his death in November 1737, does he mention the county maps be bound as an atlas with a title-page. However in 1721 when advertising his series of two sheet maps he stated that ‘This Set of Maps may be fitted up several ways and sizes, or bound in a Book, or sold single, to fit Gentlemens Conveniency ...’ It can be assumed that he would be just as accommodating with the single sheet county maps and therefore a c.1732 date is reasonable for the atlas.Willdey’s last advert was placed in the Daily Post, 12 November 1737, which carried in its news columns the announcement that ‘Yesterday Morning died of an Apopletick Fit, Mr. Willdey, who kept the noted great Toyshop at the Corner of Ludgate-street by St. Paul’s; said to have died very rich.’ Curiously although all the newspapers agreed he died on 11 November his will is signed 12 November! The business was continued by Thomas Willdey although it is not clear whether this is George’s brother, or son. Thomas died in 1748 and the business was closed as there were many creditors. Burgess (2009) no. 1.viii; Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 12, 53-8 & 160; Hodson (1984-97) I no. 183; Kingsley 1.8; Shirley (2004) T.Sax 1j; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

The map of Durham is one of the five signed by Augustine Ryther as engraver and was surveyed during 1576 along with the other northern counties. Speculation surrounds the origins of Ryther. Ralph Thoresby stated in 1715 that he was ‘probably of Leeds’ and may well indeed be related to the ennobled family of that name from Yorkshire. He was one of the earliest English born copper plate engravers and signed five of Saxton’s maps. It is quite likely he was the author of others. He went on to collaborate on the sale of the Saxton’s atlas. Certainly there is evidence to show that he continued to sell it after the Saxton’s ten-year privilege expired. His finest works are the plates for Robert Adams depicting the Spanish Armada published in 1590. Ryther was however in debtor’s prison for the winter of 1594-95 and thereafter there is no record. This map is one of a handful for which Web altered the title from Latin to English. Both the arms and cipher of Elizabeth I are replaced by those of Charles I and the gryphon is replaced by a unicorn. William Web (fl.1629-52) was a bookseller from Oxford. In 1645 he published 'The Maps of all the Shires in England and Wales. Exactly taken and truly described by Christopher Saxton'. The imprint states 'Printed for William Web at the Globe in Cornehill, London', despite Web being a bookseller in Oxford. Quite how he came into possession of the Saxton plates is unknown. The fact that the court of Charles I was in Oxford for the duration of the Civil War (1642-46) and the atlas is dedicated to the King can be no coincidence. The war undoubtedly caused a delay as most maps bear the date of 1642 despite the title imprint being 1645. Because it did not have the same impact and no doubt because of the Civil War this edition of Saxton’s atlas is one of the rarest surviving in ONLY THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES. Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 45-7; Shirley Atlases in the BL T.Sax 1g; Skelton (1970) 27; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).