FIRST EDITION. The FORDHAM EXAMPLE of Gibson’s highly desirable little atlas. Fordham (1854-1929) was one of the first great carto-bibliographers and he left on his death 1300 volumes to the Royal Geographical Society. John Gibson (fl.1750-1787) was an engraver who worked for several of the cartographers of the day. Published and advertised extensively in May of 1759 by John Newbery (1713-67) the ‘New and Accurate Maps …’ was most probably intended for children. Newbery was the first to provide educational books for children. His name is honoured in America with the annual award of a medal since 1922 for the most distinguished contribution to children’s literature by an American resident. There were two editions of this pretty county atlas, both of which are very rare. On Newbery’s death, the business was taken over by his son, Francis Newbery, and his stepson, Thomas Carnan. A fine example of the first edition with an EXCELLENT PROVENANCE. Provenance: manuscript ownership inscription inside front cover of Mary Hawkins; bookplate of George Fordham and his manuscript ownership notation dated 1910; catalogue label of S. Roscoe. Chubb (1927) no. 213; Hodson (1984-97) no. 219; Shirley (2004) T.Gib 2a.