Mr. Philip D. Burden
P.O. Box 863,
Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP6 9HD,
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 76 33 13
Email: enquiries@caburden.com

FIRST EDITION. Benjamin Pitts Capper produced just this one cartographic work but it proved to be a successful one. It was first published by Richard Phillips (1767-1840) in 1808. It contains a series of maps engraved by H. Cooper. The same series of maps are also found in an ‘Atlas of the British Islands’ also published by Phillips in 1808. Phillips, although born in London was of a Leicestershire family and founded the ‘Leicestershire Herald’ in 1792. However the following year he was sentenced to 18 months in gaol for selling Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’! After his sentence his house and business burnt down and with the insurance money he moved back to London. He became Sheriff of London and Middlesex in 1807 and received a knighthood the following year. However, bad fortune struck again when he was declared bankrupt in 1811. Provenance: private English collection. Beresiner p. 80; Carroll 64; Chubb 327.

CAPPER, Benjamin Pitts

A Topographical Dictionary of the United Kingdom; compiled from Parliamentary, and other Authentic Documents and Authorities; containing Geographical, Topographical, & Statistical Accounts of every District, Object, and Place, in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the various small islands dependent on the British Empire

London, 1808

Octavo (220 x 140 mm.), modern half calf with marbled boards, blind ruled. Five raised bands blind ruled with ornate blind pattern to the panels. Gilt top and bottom with gilt red calf title label. Engraved general map of the British Isles, typographic title page and 40 single sheet English county maps, with 2 sheet maps of Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All in fine early wash colour. Generally clean with some spotting to a region of text at the end.

Stock number: 1906

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Rare Maps and Prints