Hertfordshire Maps

51x41 cm

A NEW MAP | of the | COUNTY OF HERTFORD, | with | ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, | and | IMPROVEMENTS. | Drawn and Engraved for | The Rev^d. M^r. Newcome's History of  | S^T. ALBAN'S ABBEY.
Published as the Act directs Nov^r.20^th 1794, by M.Hooper N^o.212 Holborn London. For the Rev.^d Mr. Newcome R^r. of Shenley Herts. 
F. Vivares Sculp^t.

A very fine, detailed map based on the large scale survey and map by Dury and Andrews of 1766 but with some detail from other sources. The map was published in the single edition of Newcome's History of St. Alban's Abbey. 

The engraver, Francis Joseph Vivares (fl.1775-1803) was born in London 15th July 1750, the son of François Vivares (1709-1780) and his second wife Elisabeth. François, a celebrated engraver specialising in landscape engraving, worked from Great Newport Street in central London for the last thirty years of his life. Francis was apprenticed to one of the best known engraver, cartographer and publisher of the time, Thomas Kitchin (1719-1784). Kitchin had several premises in London from 1742 to 1776, moving to live in St Albans from 1768. Francis is likely to have followed Kitchin to St Albans.

Hodson lists only a single state of the map but some alterations were made to the plate during publication with a small change to the boundary for a satellite of Dacorum hundred at Shenley, including the addition of houses Rableys and Pottrills (Potterells) and the correction of Kent Lane to Kentish Lane. It is likely that Rev. Newcome, the author of the work and Rector of Shenley, was instrumental in the changes to the plate in this, his local area.
This fine example in original hand colour is the second state of the plate with houses added. Stub in matching paper to bottom right edge where edge bound.
Hodson Printed Maps of Hertfordshire ref. 57