Christopher Saxton’s plate of the county of Wiltshire was first produced in 1576. It was the work of the engraver Remigius Hogenberg. The series of county plates passed through the hands of William Web and Philip Lea when they became the property of Lea’s widow Anne. 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.’ The Saxton plates were acquired by George Willdey (1676?-1737).

From 1709 early in his career, Willdey was advertising maps for sale. Willdey’s first advertisement announcing the county plates was placed in the ‘Daily Post’ for 3 February 1732 (illustrated in Hodson I p. 142). They were sold individually for 4d. each. In none of his adverts, up to his death in November 1737, does he mention the county maps be bound as an atlas with a title-page. However, in 1721 when advertising his series of two-sheet maps, he stated that ‘This Set of Maps may be fitted up several ways and sizes, or bound in a Book, or sold single, to fit Gentlemens Conveniency …’ It can be assumed that he would be just as accommodating with the single sheet county maps and therefore a c.1732 date is reasonable for the atlas.

Willdey’s last advert was placed in the ‘Daily Post’, 12 November 1737, which carried in its news columns the announcement that ‘Yesterday Morning died of an Apopletick Fit, Mr. Willdey, who kept the noted great Toyshop at the Corner of Ludgate-street by St. Paul’s; said to have died very rich.’ Curiously although all the newspapers agreed he died on 11 November his will is signed 12 November! The business was continued by Thomas Willdey although it is not clear whether this is George’s brother, or son. Thomas died in 1748, and the business was closed as there were many creditors. Evans & Lawrence (1979) pp. 12, 53-8 & 160; Hodson (1984-97) I no. 183; Kingsley 1.8; Shirley (2004) T.Sax 1j; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).