A very rare separately published map of Kent in its FIRST STATE SURVIVING IN TWO KNOWN EXAMPLES. Laurie and Whittle are often thought of as mere publishers but Robert Laurie (1755-1836) was a noted craftsman. He was a talented mezzotint engraver who invented a method of printing in colour, an achievement that won him an award from the Royal Society of Arts in 1776. In the early 1790s he entered the publishing business with James Whittle (1757-1818) as his partner. In 1806 they published a road book entitled the ‘Laurie and Whittle’s New Traveller’s Companion’ which included road maps. They were compiled by Nathaniel Coltman (fl.1752-c.1807) who working as a surveyor for the Post Office was perfectly placed to produce them. The map is derived from William Mudge’s landmark map of 1801. A key to the Hundreds lower left bears next to it an Explanation. Burgess (2009) 95.i; Kingsley 59.