A fine view of a market scene in Lima, Peru, fom the 'Atlas Pittoresque' by Abel du Petit-Thouars's which illustrated the 'Voyage Autour du Monde sur la Fregate Venus' published in Paris, 1841. The French in the nineteenth century undertook a number of scientifically orientated voyages of discovery in the Pacific Ocean. Ferguson (1941-69) no. 2970; Hill (1974) p. 91.

A rare map by Pierre Duval first published in the 'Cartes Geographiques' in 1654. Here we have the second state in which the date 1677 has been added below the Privilege. Pastoureau Duval IIA no. 10 & IID.

A fine sea chart of the coast of Portugal from Syntra to Figemonte in the Algarve. The harbour of Lisbon is featured in some detail with extensive notations of depths. The whole is decorated with an ornate title cartouche, a compass rose and a ship. The map was published in Sir Robert Dudley’s magnificent ‘Arcano del Mare’. Lord Wardington wrote that it is “ONE OF THE GREATEST ATLASES OF THE WORLD and one of the most complex ever produced: it is the first sea-atlas of the whole world; the first with all the charts constructed using Mercator’s new projection, as corrected by Edward Wright; the first to give magnetic declination; the first to give prevailing winds and currents; later to be further expanded by Maury and J.T. Towson in the nineteenth century; the first to expound the advantages of ‘Great Circle Sailing’; and the first sea-atlas to be compiled by an Englishman, albeit abroad in Italy” (Lord Wardington, ‘Sir Robert Dudley’, in ‘The Book Collector’, I 52 (2003). Not in ‘Cartografia Impressa dos Seculos XVI e XVII Imagens de Portugal ...’ Exhibition Catalogue; Conde (2003) p. 189; Shirley (2004) M.Dud-1a 36.

This sea chart displays the west coast of Africa along with the islands of St. Helena & Ascension. It is in the rarer FIRST STATE from 1648. It appeared in Sir Robert Dudley’s ‘Arcano del Mare’, the first printed English nautical atlas. It was superior to any previous work in that the charts illustrated the whole world, the first time any outside of Europe had been included. It was the first atlas to use Mercator’s projection throughout, and the earliest to show the prevailing winds, currents and magnetic deviation. Dudley improved upon the theory of navigating by the ‘Great Circle’, the shortest distance between two points on a globe. It would be the eighteenth century before cartographers used the projection consistently. During the great Dutch period not one atlas was produced using it. This chart of part of the Azores takes in the island of Corvo and a fictitious uninhabited island nearby. Shirley (2004) Atlases M.Dud-1a no. 82.

Thomas Dugdale was an antiquarian and responsible for this the Curiosities of Great Britain. The work was issued with two distinct sets of maps. The first utilised those maps from the George Cole and John Roper British Atlas of 1810. This second series used a new set of maps engraved by Joshua Archer (1792-1863) which were derived from those of Cole and Roper. The publishers J. & F. Tallis had acquired the Cole and Roper plates and the Dugdale text by c.1835. They continued to issue the text with the maps and then offered this new series of plates concurrently. The work was completed by 1841, page 1580 refers to an event in February 1841. Examples are found bound in anything up to eleven volumes. The fact that the pagination is contiguous though the work enables such variation. All examples lack a date of publication and must be dated from internal evidence on the plates. This one is an early issue based on the fact that the Dugdale imprints are still present. The publisher is Lucinda Tallis, widow of John Tallis who operated from 3 Jewin Street between 1842 and 1846. It is bound with as usual, Leonard Townsend's Alphabetical Chronology. Beresiner (1983) pp. 46-7; Carroll (1996) 112; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

Thomas Dugdale was an antiquarian and responsible for this the Curiosities of Great Britain. The work was issued with two distinct sets of maps. The first utilised those maps from the George Cole and John Roper British Atlas of 1810. This second series used a new set of maps engraved by Joshua Archer (1792-1863) which were derived from those of Cole and Roper. The publishers J. & F. Tallis had acquired the Cole and Roper plates and the Dugdale text by c.1835. In 1835 the plates were used to accompany Thomas Dugdale’s Curiosities of Great Britain. Provenance: private English collection. Beresiner (1983) pp. 88-90; Carroll (1996) no. 62; Chubb (1927) 465.

This is the earliest and one of the best English county histories. It is the work of Sir William Dugdale (1605-86) who spent upwards of twenty years researching the book. Gough states "it must stand at the head and shoulders of all our county histories". The work is also notable for providing a large number of plates by the famous contemporary engraver Wenceslaus Hollar including one on page 520 of Shakespeare's monument. In preparation Dugdale traversed every inch of Warwickshire. The book describes each hundred. There is also a considerable amount of information about the pedigrees of the counties notable families, accounts of the places in the county and religious information. They are noted for the remarkable accuracy, and unusually are sourced to other authorities. Provenance: with manuscript ownership inscription of W. M. Tate-Stoate May 1903; invoice of sale to Mr & Mrs George A. Steane 8 June 1936 for £8 8s; private English collection. ESTC R4379; Lowndes (1864) III:687; Upcott (1968) 1247-59; Wing (1945-51) D2479.

FIRST EDITION. The completed work by James Robins begun by James Cundee in 1812. The text is by James Dugdale and is extensive in nature. The work is undated but the large introduction provides some clues. Page fifty quotes the ‘grand Agricultural Meeting, at Holkham (July, 1820)’ in saying that an ‘increased production [of grain] was strongly insisted on’. The population data provided is drawn from the 1801 and 1811 census, but not the 1821.The work started life in the hands of James Cundee (1771-1831) as The New British Traveller and was, it appears, issued in parts. A study of the various imprints found indicates that he was joined by his brother John Cundee (1776-1842) by 1814. However, the firm was dissolved in October 1812 according to the London Gazette and finalised in May 1815. It is presumed that it is from around this date that James Robins took over the business and its premises.The first volume in this issue has three title pages, two with the imprints of J. & J. Cundee and one J. Robins & Co. The typographic title bears the J. & J. Cundee imprint. Although dated 1819 on the Robins title page, many of the maps are dated as early as 1812. As with many examples of the work the imprints are often cropped off during binding but some are still visible. Provenance: 'Maunsell' inscribed on front free endpaper; 'M. B. Jackson' inscribed on vignette title; private English collection. Beresiner (1983) p. 187; Chubb (1927) 363; Quixley (2018) p. 171; Smith (1982); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

A lithographic view of a volcanic ravine on the island of Ascension in the Atlantic Ocean. It was published in Dumont D'Urville's 'Voyage de la Corvette L'Astrolabe' issued in several parts in 1830. The view represents the visit of the French Admiral and explorer, le Comte de La Pérouse in 1786. La Perouse's voyage ended in tragedy when they were lost after leaving Botany Bay in March 1788. It was not until 1827 that their fate was known, this book marks that finding. Ferguson 1341; Hill p. 88.

A fine lithographic view of Sandy Bay in the island of Ascension in the Atlantic Ocean. It was published in Dumont D'Urville's 'Voyage de la Corvette L'Astrolabe' issued in several parts in 1830. The view represents the visit of the French Admiral and explorer, le Comte de La Pérouse in 1786. La Perouse's voyage ended in tragedy when they were lost after leaving Botany Bay in March 1788. It was not until 1827 that their fate was known, this book marks that finding. Ferguson 1341; Hill p. 88.