Warwickshire 1st edition by Robert Morden

Code: 54082

Date: 1695

1st edition Copper engraving with later hand colouring.  Overall size : 43.6cms x 39.2cms . Engraved size : 423mm.x 363mm. Title in decorative cartouche at top left, scales of distance bottom right. Centre fold as issued. Watermark of horse.  Right hand margin is narrow at the bottom right so it has been augmented with old paper to facilitate mounting and framing; very small, invisible strengthening bottom foot of centrefold on verso;  little greyness in blank areas else very good condition.

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. Morden was employed to replace the outdated maps by Saxton, engraved by Kip and Hole. He based his maps on manuscript sources plus the surveys of Ogilby and Morgan, Seller, Palmer and the coastal charts of Captain Grenville Collins. One innovation  was the showing of 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. Gibson said:' Where actual Surveys could be had, they were purchased at any rate; and for the rest, one of the best Copies extanct was sent to some of the most knowing Gentlemen in each County; with a request to supply the defects, rectified the positions, and correct the false spellings. And that nothing might be wanting to render them as complete and accurate as might be, this whole business was commited to Mr Robert Morden, a person of known abilities in these matters'..from the Preface of the Britannia.