An extremely rare topographical work by Henry Overton of London and its immediate surrounds. Only three examples have appeared at auction in the last 55 years. Overton (1676?-1751) was born a son of John Overton, also a book, print and map seller. He took over his father’s stock on 17 June 1707. In 1724 he entered partnership with John Hoole which lasted a decade. The first title bears the imprint however of Overton and Thomas Glass. Glass began business c.1720 so this first part dates to between 1720 and 1724 when Overton’s partnership with the little-known bookseller John Hoole commenced.

The most complete example Adams was aware of is in the Guildhall Library and consists of 77 plates in total. The second part as indicated was issued in partnership with Hoole. Adams analysed the view of London above and determined that it post-dated 1728. Many of the plates derive from the folio ‘Britannia Illustrata’ issued from 1707 in which Overton had an interest and John Stow’s ‘Survey of the Cities of London and Westminster, 1720. The first part contains 31 plates including the title. The second part contains a further 24 plates including its titlepage.

An inscription of the front free endpaper describes its purchase in 1732; “J’ai acheté cette collection d’Estampes pendant mon sejour a Londres l’an 1732 pour une guinea ou 10 florins d’Allemagne” (I purchased this collection of prints during my stay in London in 1732 for one guinea, or 10 German florins.). The work was later reissued with alterations in the 1730s as the ‘Britannia Illustrata’. A note in French on the final blank endpaper states that this book was bought in July 1969 as it related to a plan of London that he owned. It is signed by Oskar Wotschke, Student Counciler from Naumburg, in Saxony-Anhalt, in Bremen since 1968. Adams (1983) no.26; Rare Book Hub; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).