The first road atlas
Britannia, Volume the First. or, an Illustration of the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales: By a Geographical and Historical Description of the Principal Roads thereof.
- Author: OGILBY, John
- Publication place: London,
- Publisher: Printed by the Author at his House in White-Fryers,
- Publication date: 1675.
- Physical description: First edition. Folio (412 by 265mm). Engraved frontispiece by Wenceslaus Hollar, letterpress title, 3 page dedication to Charles II, 5 page Preface, 3 page List of Post Roads, 8 page Introduction to the City of London, 4 page catalogue of the roads, folding general map of the British Isles, and 100 double-page engraved maps showing the roads of England and Wales, 200pp. text, 4 page Index table at end, paper strip covering earlier provenance pasted to upper margin of title, contemporary speckled calf, rebacked preserving original spine, panelled in gilt, morocco lettering-pieces.
- Inventory reference: 12176
Notes
A fine, tall example of the first edition of Ogilby's famous road book; the first national road-atlas of any country, and a landmark in the mapping of England and Wales.
Ogilby's work was composed of maps of seventy-three major roads and cross-roads, presented in a continuous strip form, not unlike a modern satellite navigation system. For the first time in England, an atlas was prepared on a uniform scale, at one inch to a mile, based on the statute mile of 1760 yards to the mile. Ogilby claimed that 26600 miles of roads were surveyed in the course of preparing the atlas, but only about 7500 were actually depicted in print.
"In its comprehensiveness, its incorporation of new devices of computation and delineation, and its opulence of paper, design and decoration, it immediately set a new standard for mapmaking in England... this volume was an attempt at a scientific study not only of the roads, but also the terrain and habitations on either side of the roads." (K.S. Eerde, 'John Ogilby and the Taste of his Times', 1976, p.137.
ESTC identifies two issues of the first edition, one with 34, and the other, like the present example, with 28 preliminary pages, omitting the dedication to Archbishop Gilbert.
Ogilby's work was composed of maps of seventy-three major roads and cross-roads, presented in a continuous strip form, not unlike a modern satellite navigation system. For the first time in England, an atlas was prepared on a uniform scale, at one inch to a mile, based on the statute mile of 1760 yards to the mile. Ogilby claimed that 26600 miles of roads were surveyed in the course of preparing the atlas, but only about 7500 were actually depicted in print.
"In its comprehensiveness, its incorporation of new devices of computation and delineation, and its opulence of paper, design and decoration, it immediately set a new standard for mapmaking in England... this volume was an attempt at a scientific study not only of the roads, but also the terrain and habitations on either side of the roads." (K.S. Eerde, 'John Ogilby and the Taste of his Times', 1976, p.137.
ESTC identifies two issues of the first edition, one with 34, and the other, like the present example, with 28 preliminary pages, omitting the dedication to Archbishop Gilbert.
Provenance
Provenance
Charles Cooke, Turkey merchant (front free endpaper with his calligraphic gift inscription to): Thomas Williams. Charles Cooke (d. 1721) was a prominent member of the Levant company, MP for Grampound (1715-1721), Lord of Trade, Master of the Mercers Company, Sheriff of London, and Alderman; bookplate of Robert More (d.1780).
Charles Cooke, Turkey merchant (front free endpaper with his calligraphic gift inscription to): Thomas Williams. Charles Cooke (d. 1721) was a prominent member of the Levant company, MP for Grampound (1715-1721), Lord of Trade, Master of the Mercers Company, Sheriff of London, and Alderman; bookplate of Robert More (d.1780).
Bibliography
- Chubb C
- Lowndes 1719
- Wing 0-168. (K.S. Eerde, 'John Ogilby and the Taste of his Times', 1976, p.137).
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