THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE. In Philip Lea’s ‘The Shires of England and Wales Described by Christopher Saxton’, c.1693, three different maps may be found of Kent. The original Saxton plate which included the counties of Surrey and Sussex was used at first. This was replaced by the plate made available by John Ogilby in at least one known example; the Gardner copy. Finally and quite probably early on Lea commissioned his own production offered here in a later state. It is the presence of this map which helped carto-bibliographer’s confirm a date of 1693 on the atlas. It contains a plan of Canterbury, eight coats-of-arms and a dedication to John Tillotson as Archbishop of Canterbury a post he held from 1691-94.

Following the death of Philip Lea 25 February 1700 his widow Anne continued the business. Although it is recorded that she sold some copper plates to George Willdey shortly after 1715 those belonging to the Saxton atlas were not amongst them. The date of her death is unknown but on 5 August 1730 the ‘Daily Journal’ carried an advertisement announcing the sale by auction of ‘all the Copper Plates belonging to the Estate of Mrs. Anne Lea, deceased … with all the County Maps of Great Britain and Ireland’. This second state reflects the change of ownership and must have been carried out immediately after purchase. The owners imprint is of Thomas Bowles and John Bowles dated 1730, the latter recording his address as Mercers Hall in Cheapside. In 1733 he moved to the Black Horse in Cornhill when the imprint of this map was altered again to reflect this with a date change to 1733. This 1730 state is known in just this one known example. Provenance: Sotheby’s 19 February 1985 lot 660 acquired by Clive A. Burden Ltd; The O’Shea Gallery ‘Kent and the Channel’ 1986 item 38. Burgess (2009) no. 26.ii; Hodson (1984-97) I pp. 186-8; Skelton (1970) p. 179.