FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE of Emanuel Bowen’s ‘Britannia Depicta’. Bowen was one of the most prominent figures in English cartography during the middle of the eighteenth century. In 1720 he co-published with John Owen the ‘Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv’d’. It was an instant success running to numerous editions over the next 50 years. Hodson in his detailed study of the atlas concluded that there were six different editions bearing the title page dated 1720. This is the first. Moreover the first can be broken into two variants. The first lacks the numbers to the Rapes on the map of Sussex itself, they are shown in the key only. Provenance: manuscript ownership inscription above the title; green gilt calf bookplate of Oliver ‘Vernon Watney’, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire to Christie, Manson & Woods sale of the Estate 7 June 1967 lot 331 to David Kingsley for £55 (author of carto-bibliography of Sussex). Bennett (1996) pp. 40-1; Harley, J B (1970) Introduction to “Britannia Depicta”; Hodson 149; Kingsley 23.1; Shirley BL T.Bow 1a issue not cited.