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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
The only known example of the first edition, first issue of ‘The Picture of England’ published by John Hatchard (1769-1849), in which the first volume is dated 1803 and the second 1804, hear bound as one. Until this example was discovered the only known example had been broken up. The author is believed to be William Green (1760-1823), who is identified on the title page to the second part. In the revised edition the following year the work is usually found in two volumes, the first of which bears a revised title similarly identifying Green.
The maps accompanying this work are a charming series, many of which are orientated unusually. The maps alone were also issued in 1803 by Robert Butters (fl. 1785-1808) as ‘An Atlas of England’. Only two known examples survive. Butters was a printer in London who took over and completed the ‘Political Magazine’ series of county maps by John Lodge.
William Green was born in Deansgate, Manchester, and trained as a surveyor. He produced the fine large-scale map of Lancashire by William Yates in 1786. Although an ‘artist, draughtsman, surveyor, etcher and engraver’, it is not clear if he was responsible for these plates. The maps are derived from those of John Cary issued in the ‘Travellers Companion’ but are notable for their curious orientation. The general map of England and Wales usually bound at the beginning of the second part, has the south at the top. The order of the maps is largely alphabetical except for Cheshire following Cumberland and Leicestershire at the end of the first volume before that of Lancashire. These have been dictated by the order of the text. This is a second issue bearing the second state of the Norfolk map. Green died at Ambleside in the Lake District. His epitaph was written by William Wordsworth.
After completing his apprenticeship to a printer and bookseller, Hatchard went to work for the leading bookseller Thomas Payne in 1789. Leaving his employ in 1797 he opened his first shop at 173 Piccadilly and struggled. But not without considerable industry, he made it work and moved again in 1801 to 190 Piccadilly. His son joined him in 1808 and in 1823 they made their final move to 187 Piccadilly where they remain to this day. Hatchard borrowed from Payne, who was the first to combine a coffee house and booksellers and offered the same convivial surroundings.
Provenance: manuscript inscription of ‘Jane Lane presented to her Oct. 2. 1812 by her Father’ inside upper board; ink inscription nearby of ‘D. L. Cumming’; acquired Dominic Winter auction 6 October 2021 lot 66. Carroll (1996) 58; Chubb (1927) 318; Frostick (2011) 66.1; ODNB; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).
GREEN, William
The Picture of England Illustrated with correct colour'd Maps of the several Counties
J. Hatchard, Bookseller to his Majesty, Piccadilly, London, 1803-04
THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. Octavo (185 x 110 mm.), two volumes bound as one, full contemporary tree calf, rebacked preserving the original spine with ornate gilt ruled compartments, each with decorative gilt floral feature, black calf gilt title label affixed. Volume 1 with stipple engraved frontispiece of Britannia, engraved title page, Introduction, Preface, pp. iv, (2), 5-195, with 19 county maps; volume 2 with general map facing engraved title page, pp. 248 and 20 (of 21) further county maps lacking Sussex and some of the ‘S’ counties bound in the wrong position with regard the descriptive text, in total 40 (of 41) maps, all in early outline colour, wash colour to general map, wash to the sea on some initial coastal counties as usual, in good condition.
Stock number: 10276
SOLD