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

The Mapping of North America

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

This map of the county of Leicestershire is the first of the county at the scale of one inch to the mile and is here offered in its SECOND EDITION. It is one of the rarer of the eighteenth-century surveys and is notable for the fact that unlike his major experienced competitors in this field, John Rocque and Thomas Jefferys, John Prior was a teacher, clergyman and mathematician. Despite this apparent lack of capability, he was awarded the Silver Medal by the Society of Arts and 20 guineas. The survey itself was undertaken by Joseph Whyman from 1775-77 and lower right on the map we find, rather unusually, a complete triangulation of the county showing how the work progressed. It was published by Prior in 1779.

On the map the parallel and meridian of Leicester are shown with the boundaries of the hundreds coloured. Turnpike roads have their Tollbars and Milestones identified. An indication of the importance of industry to this county is shown by the identification of Coal Pits, Lime Works, Wind Mills and Water Mills. The inset lower left is a detailed plan of the city of Leicester which was criticised for inaccuracies. Indeed it was excused for a lack of time to survey it properly. The whole map is engraved by John Luffman who completes it with a beautiful cartouche including both title and dedication to the Earl of Huntingdon. The apparent bucolic depiction in fact appears to bear a quantity of coal in front. John Prior died in 1803 and the map was acquired by Faden who issued this second edition. Further editions were published in 1804 and 1819 and all are rare. Baum (1972) pp. 37-9; Deadman & Brooks (2010) p. 100; Harley (1965) pp. 56 & 63; Rodger (1972) no. 262.

PRIOR, Reverend John

Map of Leicestershire from an Actual Survey, Begun in the Year 1775, and Finished in the Year 1777

William Dawson, London, I. Gregory, Leicester and Rev. John Prior, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, London, 1779-[1804]
c.1170 x 1270 mm., dissected and laid on contemporary linen, in early wash colour, with silk edges lost, evenly toned, some light surface marks, one or two small areas of loss, with Faden’s label pasted on the verso, otherwise in good condition.
Stock number: 10397

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