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MOLL, Herman : A New Description of England and Wales

Folio (355 x 240 mm.), full contemporary blind ornate panelled calf, rebacked ribbed spine with red morocco gilt label. Typographic title printed in red and black, with 50 engraved maps in their first state (4 folded), a few engraved illustrations, (2), xii, 344, x pp. Small tear to Devonshire in the margin, Sussex lacking, otherwise a good example of the first issue.

The FIRST EDITION FIRST ISSUE of Herman Moll's first English County atlas is of some considerably rarity. One of only five known examples. The maps alone were issued as an atlas entitled 'A Set of Fifty New and Correct Maps of England and Wales' in the same year. From an analysis of the contemporary records it appears that sales of the 'New Description' were disappointing. Soon after publication plate numbers were added to the maps to ease their placement in the atlas. The 'New Description' no doubt was available for some years and therefore true early issues of the atlas are very rare. The maps are all decorated with marginal panels of local antiquities. Each one is accompanied by several pages of descriptive text. A tall example of a rare atlas. Provenance: Tooley Adams: private English collection. Chubb (1927) CLX; ESTC T145692; Hodson (1984-97) 173; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

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