Town Plans

26x21 cm

UNIVERSITY AND TOWN OF CAMBRIDGE
Engraved for MOULES ENGLISH COUNTIES by I. Dower.

Highly detailed copper engraving of Cambridge with the arms of the University Colleges by John Crane Dower (1791?-1847). Published in Moules English Counties.

Thomas Moule (1784-1851) was born in Marylebone on January 14th 1784. He was a bookseller in Grosvenor Square between 1816 and 1822. He was inspector of 'blind letters' in the General Post Office for forty years and also held the office of Chamber-keeper of the Lord Chamberlain's department which gave him an official residence in the stable yard, St. James, where he spent the later years of his life and died on January 14th 1851. During his life Thomas Moule wrote a number of books on heraldry and antiquities, these interests being reflected in the decorative neo-gothic elements and coats of arms that surround his maps. It was this return to the decorative armorial cartography of the 17th and 18th centuries that contributed to the commercial success of his maps, which were issued until 1852 and remain popular to this day. 

John Crane Dower (1791?-1847), born in London about 1791, married Elizabeth Pass in 1811. He is recorded as an engraver on the 1841 Census, living with three Elizabeth Dowers, presumably mother, wife and daughter, and his son John James Dower, also recorded on the Census as engraver aged 15. He died in Feb 1847 leaving his engraving business to his two sons, John James and Frederick James Dower.

First issue with title below the arms of the town only, later issues have a more prominent title engraved in the blank area at the top of the page left of references.

A few short nicks at the lower paper edge, one just reaching engraved border under Catherine Hall with archival tape repair verso. Otherwise a very good early example from the first issue in fine later hand colour.