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

The Mapping of North America

Mr. Philip D. Burden​
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Cary’s VERY RARE FIRST ATLAS. John Cary (c.1754-1835) and descendants were possibly the most prolific publishers of cartography around the turn of the nineteenth century. Cary is noted for the clarity of detail in his maps and was the first to use the Greenwich meridian. He was apprenticed to William Palmer from 1770-77. His very earliest works were engravings for, or publications in partnership with others. His first sole publication was this very rare road book displaying the route from London to Falmouth published in 1784, an exquisite book. The surveyor as stated on the title page was none other than Aaron Arrowsmith who undertook the work in 1782. He was the first in a family line of noted mapmakers. Here working initially as a surveyor, he would eventually start his own map publishing business in 1790.

John Cary became a significant and popular mapmaker, active over the next fifty years. In 1794 he was commissioned by the Postmaster-General to survey the roads of Great Britain. The route from London to Falmouth was of some significance at the time as Falmouth was the first mainland port along the English Channel and of strategic importance, bearing in mind the ever-present threat of the French. The title outlines the detail illustrated on the plates. The first is an unnumbered general map of the route from London to Falmouth. This is followed by 50 numbered plates, each illustrating roughly 10 mile sections. Each bears a north point and a list at the foot of Inns in the principal town illustrated. Distances are recorded on the roads in both directions and the rise and fall of the land is illustrated by hachuring. The plates are engraved on one side only and are bound so that they face each other in pairs. It was issued both uncoloured and coloured and is offered here in the more desirable coloured format. Although dated 4 April 1784 on the title, the earliest advertisement we can find was in the ‘Whitehall Evening-Post’ for 17-20 July 1784.

Provenance: with manuscript ownership inscription inside front cover of Worthington Loscombe? and ex libris bookplate of ‘John E. Pritchard. Bristol’ pasted inside back cover; Clive A. Burden Ltd. Catalogue XII (2016) item 34. Bennett (2007) pp. 82-3; Beresiner (1983) pp. 80-2; not in the ESTC; Fordham (1924) p. 36; Fordham (1925) pp. 17-18, Shirley (2004) T.Cary 1a; Smith (1988) ‘The Cary Family’, in ‘The Map Collector’ 43 pp. 40-47; Sotheby’s Wardington sale 18.10.05 lot 93.
CARY, John

Cary's Actual Survey, of the Great Post Roads between London and Falmouth, including A Branch to Weymouth, as well as Those from Salisbury to Axminster ... Wherein every Gentleman's Seat, Village, Town, & c. within sight of the Road, is laid down, the principal Inns on the Road expressed, and the exact Distances ascertained, By A. Arrowsmith Land Surveyor. 1782.

J. Cary, Map, Print, and Chart-seller, the Corner of Arundel Street, Strand., London, 4 April 1784
Duodecimo (150 x 95 mm.) contemporary half calf, with marbled paper boards, rebacked spine with gilt ruled compartments preserving original red calf gilt title label. With engraved title page, 1 unnumbered general map of the route and 50 maps in early outline colour with some wash colour, in good condition.
Stock number: 10190

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