This is one of the finest derivatives of John Adam’s large distance map of 1677. It is one of two general maps George Willdey published around the same time. Shirley suggested a date of publication of c.1715 which has no been revised to 1713. Willdey marks the roads with double ruled lines with accompanying mileage figures. He highlights the towns in an oval frame, with larger cities in rectangular ones. Below the ornate title cartouche is the usual Willdey advertisement detailing all the wares available at his ‘Toy and Print Shop’. The side panels contain alphabetical tables listing the main towns and cities, the county in which they sit, map grid position, distance from London, market days of the week, number of Members of Parliament, and keys to identify those navigable by ships (S), vessels (V), or boats (B). Each also identifies Outside these are eighteen views of the principal ports of England. The left illustrates London, Chester, Bristol, Yarmouth, Southampton, Newcastle, Hull, Portsmouth and Harwich. The right side contains views of Plymouth, Dartmouth, Falmouth, Torbay, Sheerness, Dover, Liverpool, Windsor and Deal. The whole bears a decorative architectural frieze framing the top

George Willdey (1676?-1737) was advertising maps for sale from 1709, early in his career. Willdey’s first advertisement announcing the Christopher Saxton county plates was placed in the ‘Daily Post’ for 3 February 1732 (illustrated in Hodson I p. 142). They were sold individually for 4d. each. In none of his adverts, up to his death in November 1737, does he mention the county maps be bound as an atlas with a titlepage. However, in 1721 when advertising his series of two-sheet maps, he stated that ‘This Set of Maps may be fitted up several ways and sizes, or bound in a Book, or sold single, to fit Gentlemens Conveniency …’ It can be assumed that he would be just as accommodating with the single sheet county maps and therefore a c.1732 date is reasonable for the atlas.

Willdey’s last advert was placed in the ‘Daily Post’, 12 November 1737, which carried in its news columns the announcement that ‘Yesterday Morning died of an Apopletick Fit, Mr. Willdey, who kept the noted great Toyshop at the Corner of Ludgate-street by St. Paul’s; said to have died very rich.’ Curiously although all the newspapers agreed he died on 11 November his will is signed 12 November! The business was continued by Thomas Willdey although it is not clear whether this is George’s brother, or son. Thomas died in 1748, and the business was closed as there were many creditors. Shirley (1983) Willdey 3; Worms & Bayntun-Williams (2011).