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OWEN, John & BOWEN, Emanuel : Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv’d; Being a Correct Coppy of Mr Ogilby’s Actual Survey of all ye Direct & Principal Cross Roads in England and Wales ..

Thomas Bowles & Emanuel Bowen, London, 1720

Octavo (210 x 140 mm.), contemporary full calf with ornate blind panelled boards, rebacked with raised bands, each compartment with gilt rules, blue calf gilt title and gilt date. pp. (6), 273. With 273 engraved plates of road strips and county maps printed back to back. With repairs to some gutters barely noticeable, good margins throughout apart from p. 21 trimmed close, dark impressions, otherwise in good condition.

FIRST EDITION SECOND ISSUE of Emanuel Bowen’s 'Britannia Depicta'. Bowen was one of the most prominent figures in English cartography during the middle of the eighteenth century. In 1720, he co-published with John Owen the 'Britannia Depicta or Ogilby Improv’d'. It was an instant success running to numerous editions over the next 50 years. Hodson in his detailed study of the atlas concluded that there were six different editions bearing the title page dated 1720. The first can however be broken into three further variants, only two of which Hodson identified. This is an example of the second (first recorded) issue with the variant coat of arms on p. 94 altered to reflect those of Newton in Hampshire, not Newton in Lancashire. The first two both lack the numbers to the Rapes on the map of Sussex itself, they are shown in the key only. Provenance: private English collection. Bennett (1996) pp. 40-1; Harley (1970); Hodson (1984-97) 149; Kingsley (1982) 23.1; Shirley (2004) T.Bow 1a issue not cited.

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