Cornwall Maps

23x20 cm

DECORATIVE TITLE CARTOUCHE

CORNWALL, Drawn from an ACTUAL SURVEY and Regulated by ASTRON^L. OBSERVAT^NS. By T.Kitchin Geograph^r.

Engraved by Thomas Kitchin for publication in The London Magazine by Richard Baldwin. The magazine was published monthly between 1st May 1732 and 1st July 1783, the county maps issued one at a time at irregular intervals between 1747 and 1763, the map of Cornwall appearing in the issue for October 1749. The complete series were re-issued under various titles including Boswell's Antiquities by Alexander Hogg from 1786 to 1798.
Thomas Kitchin (1719-1784), engraver, cartographer and publisher, born in London 4th August 1719, the son of Thomas Kitchin, hat-dyer, and his wife Mary Birr. Apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen (1693-1767) 6th December 1732 to 6th August 1746. He married his master’s daughter, Sarah Bowen, during his apprenticeship, 25th December 1739. Their son, Thomas Bowen Kitchin was born about 1740. An active Baptist, he was deacon of the Barbican Baptist Chapel in 1768 and married Jane Burroughs (1720?-1789), daughter of celebrated baptist preacher Joseph Burroughs (1685-1761). Engraver to the Duke of York from about 1758. Traded as Thomas Kitchin & Son from 1769 and was Hydrographer to the King from 1773. He probably retired sometime around 1776, his premises at The Star, Holborn Hill, which may have been run by his son since their partnership, was taken over by William Hawkes, an apprentice of his son in 1776/1777. He moved to Fishpool Street, St Albans in 1768 and died 23rd June 1784. He was buried in a private vault at St Albans Abbey, his memorial stone on the floor of the Abbey has not survived.
Cornwall was one of ten Kitchin maps that appeared in England Displayed in 1769 and this example is from that work. 
There was a 'shake' during the printing from the copperplate causing a slight blur at the bottom of the map, otherwise a good clean example in neat later hand colour.
Fine later hand colour.