Clive A. Burden LTD. Rare Maps, Antique Atlases, Books and Decorative Prints

The Mapping of North America

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Emanuel Bowen was one of the most prominent figures in English cartography during the middle of the eighteenth century. Since the highly influential ‘Britannia’ by John Ogilby had been first published in 1675 no smaller version had been issued. Then in the period 1718-20 a flush of four projects were conceived, three of which were completed. This was unquestionably the most successful. It is the only one of the three to include a set of county maps with the road strips. The author of the text was John Owen an antiquarian who had been admitted to the Middle Temple in 1718. Although known as the Owen and Bowen atlas it was in fact published jointly by Bowen and Thomas Bowles. It had a long life running to numerous editions; this is an example of the 1764 standard issue according to Hodson. For this issue the old engraved title page is replaced with a new typographic one. In 1762/ 63 Carington Bowles took over the business of his uncle Thomas Bowles. Apart from issuing a new title page, virtually every single road strip was updated in some way or another according to Hodson. Following the title are five newly type set preliminary leaves paginated 3 to 12. Carington Bowles advertised the new work in the ‘Public Advertiser’ for 8 May 1764. Hodson points out that this was the usual time of year for the Bowles family to place their advertising and may not be an accurate guide to the date of publication. Provenance: Hooten Pagnell Hall, Yorkshire. Bennett (2007) pp. 40-1; Harley, J B (1970) Introduction to “Britannia Depicta”; Hodson 164; Shirley BL T.Bow 1n.
OWEN, John & BOWEN, Emanuel

Britannia Depicta: Or, Ogilby Improved. Being an Actual Survey of all the Direct and Principal Cross Roads of England and Wales ...

Carington Bowles, London, 1764
Octavo (195 x 155 mm.), full contemporary calf, rebacked with corners repaired, spine with raised bands, gilt ruled compartments and gilt red calf title label. pp. 12, 273. Internally very clean, complete with contemporary endpapers.
Stock number: 8832
£ 1,250
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