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Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv d; Being a Correct Coppy of Mr. Ogilby s Actual of alley Direct & Principal Cross Roads in England and Wales: Wherein are exactly Delineated & Engraven Alley Cities, Towns, Villages, Churches, Seats &… …By Ino. Owen of the Midd. Temple Gent. By Eman: Bowen Engraver. The fourth Edition. Printed & Sold by Tho: Bowles. Print & Map Seller in St. Paul s Ch. Yard, 1736. Custom clam-shell case measures 8.75 x 6.25 . Restored Cambridge binding 8 x 5.5 , 8vo. In fair condition. Slip-case is normally scuffed at edges and worn/bumped at corners. Bottom edge of clamshell is scuffed at corner; marbled paper torn. Gilt lettering and deco on clamshells spine bright and clean. Cambridge styled leather boards scuffed at edges and worn/bumped at corners. Restoration has been done at head and tail of spine, as well as corners of boards. Gutters have been restored with a piece of modern paper. Front hinge beginning to split, cording exposed. Previous ownership bookplate found on front end-page (verso): Charles F. Townley. Light pencil marginalia found on front paste-down. Light toning throughout text-block; mostly at edges of leaves. Binding beginning to split at tail of gutter between pages 108-9, some cording exposed. Restored binding intact. Please see photos and ask questions, if any, before purchasing. Britannia Depicta or Ogilby improv'd was an illustrated road atlas for Britain. It was printed in numerous editions over many decades from 1720 into the 19th century and updated with engravings by many artisans who worked from drawings of other artists. It featured strip maps. The atlas was based on the earlier work of John Ogilby who published his Britannia, the first British road atlas drwn to scale, in 1675. Britannia Depicta was printed in 1720 (first edition) by Emanuel Bowen and John Owen's firm Bowen & Owen. It was one of Bowen's earliest works. A road atlas, it contains two hundred and seventy three road maps along with drawings of landmarks and miniature county maps of each of the counties of England and Wales. It augmented John Ogilby's original with additional historical and heraldic detail. As the atlas was printed with maps on both sides of each page, this resulted in a handier-sized book. John Ogilby (1600 1676) was a Scottish translator, impresario, publisher and cartographer. He was probably at least a half-brother to James Ogilvy, 1st Earl of Airlie, though neither overtly acknowledged this. Ogilby's most-noted works include translations of the works of Virgil and Homer, and his version of the Fables of Aesop. Ogilby established Ireland's first theatre in Werburgh Street, Dublin, and following the Restoration, that country's first Theatre Royal. Ogilby played a significant part in arrangements for the coronation of King Charles II. Following the Great Fire of 1666, Ogilby's large-scale map of the City of London was founded on precise survey work, and his Britannia is the first road atlas of England and Wales to be based on surveys and measurements, and drawn to scale. Emanuel Bowen (1694 1767) was a Welsh map engraver, who achieved the unique distinction of becoming Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of Great Britain and Louis XV of France. Bowen was highly regarded by his contemporaries for producing some of the largest, most detailed and most accurate maps of his era. He is known to have worked with most British cartographic figures of the period including John Owen and Herman Moll. FOURTH EDITION! With CUSTOM Clam shell case! Beautifully restored, gift quality. RAREB1736HVWC 08/24 - HK1947. Seller Inventory # RAREB1736HVWC
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