A New Map of Oxfordshire by John Cary

Code: 54417

Date: 1805

Long title: A New Map of Oxfordshire divided into Hundreds , exhibiting Its Roads, Rivers, Parks, etc by John Cary, Engraver 1805. Copper engraving, original full wash  hand colouring..  Overall size :52.2cms x 63 cms.    Image size :482mm x 542mm.  . Good margins. Scale of miles at bottom left. Title in oval  cartouche ; small archival repair on verso (see photo) else very good condition.

John Cary and his brother William were active globe-makers in London though John Cary was also an engraver and publisher and came to be regarded as one of the leading English cartographers. In 1787 Cary published his ‘New and Correct English Atlas’. Although lacking in the type of decoration characteristic of earlier mapmakers they are nevertheless elegant in their clarity and finely engraved detail. This atlas proved to be very popular and many editions were published, the final one being in 1862. In 1789 Cary published a pocket atlas entitled ‘Cary’s Travelling Companion’ which was also a success and in 1794 Cary was employed by the Postmaster-General to undertake a survey of all the main roads in the country.