New Map of England and Wales by Thomas Kitchin

Code: 53741

Date 1794

Long title: Great Britain and Ireland  Drawn from the best Surveys etc.  Copper engraving with later full wash hand colouring. Overall sheet size: 59.3cms x 73cms; image size: 540mm x 668mm. Highly decorative cartouche wiht Briannia seated below, her outstretched hands indicating the cornupcopia of plenty below her ,left, the barrels, scythe, the garlanded youth holding a scroll with  a ship on it, an anchor in the background and to right a sailing ship and castle - all indicating the prestige, might and plenty of the kingdom. Three scales of Distance bottom left (British Statute Miles, Common Scotch Miles, Irish Miles) , reference key to the counties of Ireland midddle left, Explanation key top right showing symbols for roads, markets etc in England, Scotland and Ireland. Reference to the Shires of Scotland top right and below to the Counties of England and Wales.  Centrefold as published; vertical fold also as published (through Ireland)slight strengthening at fold hereat two edge nicks on verso and edge tear bottom margin just stretching into border.
Striking hand colouring delineating the counties and with the hills coloured brown. Arresting map.

Thomas Kitchin, 1718-84. Kitchin worked as a publisher and engraver from premises at The Star in Holborn, London. He was an engraver of the highest ability  and produced a broad range of books on a variety of subjects including topographical works. By himself Kitchen produced a large number of maps of every kind for periodicals such as the London Magazine and for books on history and antiquities. He is probably best known though, for his parnership with Emanuel Bowen with whom he published, in 1755, The Large English Atlas, which contained the finest county maps of the !8th.Century.