Sussex Maps

9x13 cm

SUSSEX
London. Publish’d by J.Wallis, Engraver, 77 Berwick Str. Soho.
Copper engraving by James Wallis, first published in Wallis's new Pocket edition of the English Counties or travellers companion…1812.
James Wallis, Engraver, bookseller, printer, stationer and publisher (fl.1810-1825), has been confused with contemporary bookseller James Wallis (fl.1787-1807) of Ivy Lane and Paternoster Row and with James Wallis, engraver and Jeweller of Fleet Street made bankrupt in 1810.  James Wallis, the map engraver was born in 1784 the son of a Bricklayer in Southampton, apprenticed to John Roper in 1799 and had a premises in Berwick Street from 1810-1825. He appears to have ceased engraving in 1825 and is recorded as a commission and discount agent imprisoned for debt in 1835. He became a stationer again trading in Westminster and then, with his son, also James, a dealer in wine and beer.
He produced and published this set of miniature maps together with a larger series in the same year.
Published by Wallis in 1812 & 1814, the maps then briefly became the property of P. Martin followed by Simpkin & Marshall before passing to William Lewis who published them in his Lewis's New Travellers guide… from 1919 to 1836.
North is to the left.
This example is the first state of the plate without plate number published by Wallis in his New Pocket edition of the English Counties in 1812.
Fine example in original hand colour.
Kingsley Printed Maps of Sussex ref. 71(i)