Hertfordshire Maps

17x12 cm

An Improved MAP of | HERTFORDSHIRE | containing the Borough | and Market Towns, | with those Adjoyning; | also its Principal Roads | and Rivers. by I Cowley | Geographer to his MAJESTY
The first six county maps in this series were published by Robert Dodsley (1703-1764) in The publick register: or, the weekly magazine. The magazine ran for only twenty-four numbers from January to June 1741, the 6 maps (Beds, Berks, Bucks, Cambs Cheshire & Cornwall), with accompanying historical and geographical description, appearing between 14th March and 6th June.
Dodsley decided to complete the series and published the maps and descriptions in a separate publication The Geography of England: Done in the manner of Gordon's geographical grammar...To each county is prefix'd a compleat mapp from the latest and best observations...London, R. Dodsley, 1744. Despite this date on the title page, the book was actually published in November 1743.
The Geography was republished in 1765 after the death of Robert Dodsley, by his brother James but without the county maps. The maps were re-issued in an atlas without the county descriptions in A New Sett of pocket mapps of all the counties of England and Wales ... London: Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall mall, and M. Cooper in Pater-noster Row. 1745. The Hertfordshire map was unchanged in both editions.The rarity of surviving examples indicate that sales were disappointing.
Small left margin (4mm) and faint mark from edge of old mountboard but still a good example. Later hand colour.
Hodson Printed Maps of Hertfordshire ref. 30