Staffordshire Maps

17x23 cm

WOOD ENGRAVING BY A FEMALE ENGRAVER.

No. LII.] GUIDE TO KNOWLEDGE. PRICE ONE PENNY.
STAFFORDSHIRE. 

Engraved by S. Hall. | Pub^d. by W Edwards, Ave Maria Lane.

Woodblock engraving published in The Guide to Knowledge...by W.Pinnock...W. Edwards London 1833-34.

William Pinnock (1782-1843), born in Alton, Hampshire became a schoolmaster. In 1817 he moved to London and, in partnership with Samuel Maunder, began the publication of cheap educational works. The Guide to Knowledge was a publication issued in weekly parts between 1833 and 1834 and containing maps printed from the woodblock with the incised lines appearing white on a black ground. Some counties were published with revised borders by Groombridge Shepherd & Sutton in 1838.
The technique proved unpopular for topographical maps and was not used again, the county maps were issued later in a more traditional format by lithographic transfer in Johnson's Atlas of England in 1847 & 1863.

The engraver was  Selina Hall, née Price (1708?-1853), wife of well known engraver, Sidney Hall (1788?-1831). Selina continued his engraving business after his death and, as a highly skilled engraver whose work is almost indistinguishable from her husband's, was very likely also responsible for some of his output in his later years. Selina signed her work "S.Hall" while Sidney usually signed his maps "Sid^y. Hall".

Some fraying, browning & chipping to paper edges.