Barkshire (Berkshire) 1st edition by Robert Morden

Code: 54044

Date: 1695 . 1st edition

Copper engraving, later hand colouring.  Overall size  : 43.1cms.x 37.6cms. Image size : 414mm.x 353mm. Title in cartouche at  right ; scale of distance at bottom left. Centrefold as published, slight darkening to bottom of centrefold else very good condition indeed (two pinholes either side of centrefold at bottom of map, possibly a direction to the binder).
Robert Morden died in 1703, so this is the only edition of his most famous maps that were published in his lifetime.  These maps are the first county maps to show roads ( based on Ogilby’s road maps ) and show three scales representing great, middle and small miles as different scales were used in different parts of the country.    Robert Morden based his maps on manuscript sources plus the surveys of Ogilby and Morgan, Seller and the coastal charts of Greenville Collins. His major innovation was  showing longitudes measured from the meridian of St. Paul's Cathedral given in the form of time in minutes at the top of the map in Roman numerals and at the bottom in degrees. This was done to clarify local times that were taken from the sun as there was no national standard time.