Leicestershire Maps

22x27 cm

CARY'S "QUARTO" SERIES.

LEICESTERSHIRE 
By JOHN CARY, Engraver.
London: Published May 1 1792 by J.Cary, Engraver & Map seller Strand.

Copper engraving by John Cary. This series of maps, commonly known as his "quarto" series, were published in Cary's New and Correct English Atlas and were justifiably popular, running to many editions from 1787 until about 1804. Re-engraved plates extended the life of the series from 1808 to 1843 and lithographic transfers from the plates by later publishers continued publication until about 1876 - a life of nearly 90 years.
John Cary (1755-1835) born 23rd February at Corsley in Wiltshire, the son of George, a maltster and churchwarden, and Mary Cary. He came to London and was apprenticed to mapmaker, engraver and globemaker, William Palmer (1739-1812) from 7th March 1770 to 4th March 1778. He married Ann Jackson 21st June 1779 at St Bride’s, Fleet Street. Three of his brothers also came to London; George  Cary (1753-1830) haberdasher, Francis Cary (1756-1836) engraver, and William Cary (1759-1825) optical and mathematical instrument-maker and globemaker. John Cary was appointed Surveyor of Roads to the General Post Office in 1794. He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Society of Arts 1804 for his large scale map of Cardiganshire. Cary’s two sons George (1787-1859) and John (1791-1852) were associated with him in his business and after the Strand premises burned down on 17th Jan 1820, continued his business from 86 St. James, John Cary himself acquiring a house on the Kings Road Chelsea. He died at Mortlake on 16th August 1835 leaving freeholds of two properties in the Strand to his sons and the Kings Road property to his daughter.
This example, with imprint dated 1792, was issued in Cary's New and Correct English Atlas in 1793. Good codition, original hand colour.