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OSBORNE, Thomas : Geographia Magnae Britanniae. Or, Correct Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales; with General ones of both Kingdoms, and of the several Adjacent Islands …

Printed for T. Osborne. J. Robinson. D. Browne. W. Johnston. J. Hodges. P. Davey & A. Millar. B. Law, London, 1748-[c.56]

Quarto (175 x 105 mm.), nineteenth century half calf, marbled paper boards, blind ruled, spine with raised bands, red calf gilt title and date labels. With engraved title page, pp. 39, (27), (2), with 61 double page maps numbered to 60, the folding general map at the beginning being unnumbered. There are two maps numbered 19 and two 56. There are no maps numbered 22 or 50, each map identified in contemporary hand on verso, light waterstain to index leaves, one or two maps trimmed close, otherwise in good condition.

In the ‘London Evening Post’ for 21-23 July 1747 was an advert stating that 'Now Engraving, In a beautiful Manner, and of proper Size to carry in the Pocket, or to bind with the Tour … A Complete Set of Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales … on a larger Scale than any Pocket Map hitherto publish’d'. The ‘Tour’ referred to the well known book by Daniel Defoe of the period, it was partly owned by the same publishers. There appears to have been a minor delay in the first issue as it was not advertised as being complete until the ‘General Evening Post’ of 8-10 November 1748. Despite naming Scotland the two were made available separately and we may normally find England and Wales together, as in this example which was originally priced at 6s. Numerous adverts were placed in the ensuing months and no doubt this was due to the competition of Thomas Badeslade & William Toms’ ‘Chorographia Britanniae’ and the Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffery’s ‘Small English Atlas’.This second and final edition of the 'Geographia Magnae Britanniae' was issued utilising the original letterpress material. The date of 1748 remains on the title page which has otherwise been retouched and had its imprint altered to reflect the new partners. John Osborne had left the trade by November 1751 and Samuel Birt had died in November 1755. The transfer of their shareholding is not recorded but the revised title records the new shareholders are William Johnston and P. Davey and Bedwell Law. No advert has been located for this edition, it is presumed that it was issued shortly after and the date of circa 1756 is generally accepted. Evidence for this date also comes from the fact that the companion atlas of Scotland was issued dated 1756. The maps are unaltered including the errors of numeration and in this example the letterpress follows them. The leaf containing the Tables and unaltered advert is placed at the end of the atlas. The maps of England and Wales and Gloucestershire in the atlas are signed by Thomas Hutchinson as engraver and although there are similarities in style with the remainder of the maps, Hodson does not believe he was responsible for them all. Provenance: Brian Kentish Catalogue 2008 item 45Chubb (1927) 189; ESTC N18304; Hodson (1984-97) 206.

OSBORNE, Thomas : Geographia Magnae Britanniae. Or, Correct Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales; with General ones of both Kingdoms, and of the several Adjacent Islands …

Printed for S. Birt. T. Osborne. D. Browne. I. Hodges. I. Osborne. A. Millar. I. Robinson, London, 1748

Octavo (170 x 110 mm.), recent full calf, ornate blind panelled boards, spine with raised bands, ornate blind ruled compartments, each with central blind feature, green calf gilt title and date labels, later endpapers. With engraved title page, pp. 39, (27), (2), with 61 double page maps numbered to 60, the folding general map at the beginning being unnumbered. There are two maps numbered 19 and two 56. There are no maps numbered 22 or 50, Yorkshire trimmed close as often the case, otherwise in good condition.

In the London Evening Post for 21-23 July 1747 was an advert stating that 'Now Engraving, In a beautiful Manner, and of proper Size to carry in the Pocket, or to bind with the Tour … A Complete Set of Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales … on a larger Scale than any Pocket Map hitherto publish’d'. The ‘Tour’ referred to the well known book by Daniel Defoe of the period, it was partly owned by the same publishers. There appears to have been a minor delay in the first issue as it was not advertised as being complete until the General Evening Post of 8-10 November 1748. Despite naming Scotland the two were made available separately and we may normally find England and Wales together, as in this example which was originally priced at 6s. Numerous adverts were placed in the ensuing months and no doubt this was due to the competition of Thomas Badeslade & William Toms’ Chorographia Britanniae and the Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffery’s Small English Atlas.Traditionally the atlas has been ascribed to Thomas Osborne. Although the names of seven publishers appear on the title page, no clear attribution is made. Often the size of the share in the work indicated their principal listing in the order of names. The first named is Samuel Birt who died in November 1755. A second edition appeared soon after in which the first named is Thomas Osborne who appeared as the second named in this edition. Therefore the work has commonly been called Osborne’s. He was also ‘the most celebrated bookseller of his day’ (Dibdin). Osborne had inherited a considerable booksellers and publishers business from his father of the same name in Gray’s Inn. It appears though that this brought with it an unfortunate air. Marston wrote that ‘to his inferiors he generally spoke with an authoritative and insolent manner’.The maps of England and Wales and Gloucestershire in the atlas are signed by Thomas Hutchinson (fl.1733-54) as engraver and although there are similarities in style with the remainder of the maps, Hodson does not believe he was responsible for them all. Chubb (1927) 190; ESTC T151875; Hodson (1984-97) 205; Shirley (2004) T.Hut 1a; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

OSBORNE, Thomas : Geographia Magnae Britanniae. Or, Correct Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales; with General ones of both Kingdoms, and of the several Adjacent Islands …

Printed for S. Birt. T. Osborne. D. Browne. I. Hodges. I. Osborne. A. Millar. I. Robinson, London, 1748

Octavo (170 x 110 mm.), contemporary quarter calf, marbled paper boards, spine with raised bands, worn. With engraved title page, pp. 39, (27), (2), with 61 double page maps numbered to 60, the folding general map at the beginning being unnumbered. There are two maps numbered 19 and two 56. There are no maps numbered 22 or 50, light water stain to index leaves, otherwise in good condition.

In the 'London Evening Post' for 21-23 July 1747 was an advert stating that 'Now Engraving, In a beautiful Manner, and of proper Size to carry in the Pocket, or to bind with the Tour … A Complete Set of Maps of all the Counties in England, Scotland, and Wales … on a larger Scale than any Pocket Map hitherto publish’d'. The ‘Tour’ referred to the well known book by Daniel Defoe of the period, it was partly owned by the same publishers. There appears to have been a minor delay in the first issue as it was not advertised as being complete until the 'General Evening Post' of 8-10 November 1748. Despite naming Scotland, the two were made available separately and we may normally find England and Wales together, as in this example which was originally priced at 6s. Numerous adverts were placed in the ensuing months and no doubt this was due to the competition of Thomas Badeslade & William Toms’ 'Chorographia Britanniae' and the Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jeffery’s 'Small English Atlas'.Traditionally the atlas has been ascribed to Thomas Osborne. Although the names of seven publishers appear on the title page, no clear attribution is made. Often the size of the share in the work indicated their principal listing in the order of names. The first named is Samuel Birt who died in November 1755. A second edition appeared soon after in which the first named is Thomas Osborne who appeared as the second named in this edition. Therefore, the work has commonly been called Osborne’s. He was also ‘the most celebrated bookseller of his day’ (Dibdin). Osborne had inherited a considerable bookseller and publishing business from his father of the same name in Gray’s Inn. It appears though that this brought with it an unfortunate air. Marston wrote that ‘to his inferiors he generally spoke with an authoritative and insolent manner’. The maps of England and Wales and Gloucestershire in the atlas are signed by Thomas Hutchinson (fl.1733-54) as engraver and although there are similarities in style with the remainder of the maps, Hodson does not believe he was responsible for them all. Chubb (1927) 190; ESTC T151875; Hodson (1984-97) 205; Shirley (2004) T.Hut 1a; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

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