A monumental wall map of the world in Mercator’s projection published in 1830 by John Purdy, one of the leading hydrographers of the early 19th century. The map’s primary purpose was to illustrate significant maritime exploration, synthesizing the information into this huge wall map enabled much greater detail. Amongst these voyages are those of James Cook, George Vancouver, Edward Parry, and Sir John Franklin, and James Weddell.

The very size of this map makes its survival problematic. Indeed, Steven’s and Tree only cited editions of 1810, 1815, 1818, 1828, and 1829. A recent search on the OCLC identifies the following issues: 1810, 1815, 1818, 1821, 1823, 1828, 1829, 1830, 1834, 1839, 1841, 1851, 1854 and 1857, all of which are very rare, most surviving in one known example. Their practical utility in the offices of government buildings, merchant houses, and on-board ships means that for a map of this size to survive the elements for two centuries is quite remarkable.

It is clear from the number of issues traced that the map was updated on a regular basis, which alone lends to its importance and commercial desirability. It was published by Richard Holmes Laurie (1777-1858), the son of the engraver Robert Laurie, who along with James Whittle took over Robert Sayer’s publishing house in 1794. Richard Holmes Laurie joined the partnership when his father retired in 1812. Upon the death of Whittle in 1818 he continued publishing alone as R. H. Laurie.

The firm’s history was heavily involved in publishing maritime charts. John Purdy (1773-1843) was the principal hydrographer for the firm from 1812. He was apprenticed to the nautical publisher David Steel in 1795. His earliest known charts date from 1806, one of which was published by Laurie and Whittle. “Purdy exchanged information with leading hydrographers of the day, both British and foreign. He was respected as the foremost authority in private chart publishing, where he was exceptional for the care with which he acknowledged the many varied sources on which his work was based. His work and letters give the impression of a meticulous, modest, and industrious man; however, nothing is known of his private life. He died of gangrene of the leg at his home at 29 Gloucester Street, Clerkenwell, London, on 29 January 1843.” (ODNB).

The title highlights the detail applied thus; ‘With the Tracks of the More Distinguished Modern Navigators. Regulated throughout, according to the Best Scientific Determinations. Published August 14th 1828 … New Edition, Materially Improved, 1830. London.’ Legends and tables detail ‘Arctic Expeditions’, distances from London, ‘Explanatory Remarks’, ‘To ascertain the Bearing and Distance from one Place to another’, the ‘Limits of the Southern Fishery’, ‘Geographic Epochas[sic]’, and finally a note on the tracks recorded. The oceans are criss-crossed with numerous tracks.

The 1820s were notable for Arctic and Antarctic exploration. The results of those of James Clark Ross, Edward Parry, and Sir John Franklin, had fundamentally improved our understanding of the northern regions of Canada. It even records Franklin’s overland expedition of 1825-1827. The Antarctic is also brought up to date with the discoveries of Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen, James Weddell’s voyage furthest south in 1823. In North America the west records the border agreements of 1818 and 1819. Otherwise, this predates much of the interior exploration which was about to be undertaken. The interior of Africa is also largely devoid of detail. The coastal survey work of Captain Phillip Parker King undertaken in Australia between 1818 and 1822 is also included. OCLC; ODNB; Steven’s and Tree (1967) 93; Tooley’s Dictionary (1999-2004); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).