Code: 57206
Date: 1794
Long title: Jamaica From the Latest Surveys; Improved and Engraved by Thomas Jefferys. Copper engraving with original outline hand colouring. Overall size: 72.9cms x 55.1cms. Image size: 618mm x 466mm. Inset plans of the Harbour of Bluefields and Kingston in lower corners, large compass above title in lower centre. Highly detailed map showing parishes, towns and villages, churches, forts, roads, rivers and ponds, harbors, anchorages, soundings, etc.
An annotation at upper left says: The Negro-towns are Distinguished by a Stroke under the Name. Very good condition.
Laurie and Whittle were apprentices of Robert Sayer: Laurie was apprenticed to Robert Sayer in 1770 and made free in 1777. He was a skilled artist, who exhibited at the Society of Artists from 1770, winning a silver palette for a drawing in 1770, and he was also an accomplished engraver of mezzotint portraits and produced views and other decorative items. In about 1792 he returned to the Sayer business and took it over from the ailing Sayer in 1794.
Whittle was apprenticed into the Needlemakers’ Company, evidently made free by 1792, and joined with Laurie to take over the Sayer business in 1794.
Sayer left the two a 21-year lease on the shop (at £100 a year) and on Sayer's Bolt Court premises, as well as an option to acquire stock and equipment at a preferential price of £5,000 payable over three years.The foundation of their business was the existing Sayer stock of printing plates, both for maps and atlases and also decorative prints, but they continued to add new material to freshen up the atlases, as well as separately published maps relating to current events, particularly the Napoleonic wars..
Laurie retired in 1812. His son Richard Holmes Laurie replaced him in the partnership and, eventually, took over the firm after Whittle’s death in 1818. Under the influence of Richard Holmes Laurie, the partnership became noted as chartmakers and publishers, with the business existing to the current day as Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson.
