Worcestershire Maps

70x54 cm

An ACCURATE MAP of | the COUNTY of | WORCESTER | Divided into its | HUNDREDS | and drawn from the best | Authorities | Illustrated with Historical Extracts relative | to Natural History, Produce, Trade & Manufactures: | Showing also amongst various Improvements, | the Rectories, Vicargaes, Charity Schools, | Religious Houses &.c.| by Eman: Bowen | Geog:^r to His Majesty.

Sold by I. Tinney at the Golden Lion & R. Sayer at the Golden Buck in Fleet Street T. Bowels in St Paul's Church Yard and I Bowles & Son at the Black Horse in Cornhill 1756 

Copper engraving by Emanuel Bowen (1693?-1767) published in The Large English Atlas from 1760. The work was the first large scale atlas of English counties since the works of Blaeu and Jansson a century earlier and was based on the latest surveys available. The maps were a long time in preparation, beginning in 1749 with the county of Sussex and reaching completion of 45 plates in 1760. During this time the plates passed through the hands of several publishers and were issued individually and in part works without title. The Large English Atlas was issued by various publishers until c.1794 with few changes to the maps. 

This example has the imprint of John Tinney, Robert Sayer and Thomas & John Bowles published in 1756. Original outline hand colour with some 'burning' from the acids used in the original green pigments with a few small holes re-inforced with archival tape verso. Old repair to tear into map at bottom margin (into map at Oxfordshire county boundary). A little browned overall and a few repaired nicks at paper edges but an early example in original colour with good margins.