18th Century and Earlier Maps

This is an antique coaching road map of Cranborne to Dorchester. An English, framed lithograph engraving of regional interest with second map to reverse, dating to the mid 18th cent...

This is an antique county map of Northamptonshire. An English, framed atlas engraving by Richard Blome, dating to the 17th century and later. Fascinating cartography, oriented 90 d...

An original 17th century map entitled "Leodiensis Episcopatus in omnes Subjacentes Provincias distincté divisusVisscher, Leodiensis Episcopatus" by Nicolaes Visscher II, published in Amsterdam in 1688. The map is centered on Liege, Belgium, includes the area between Antwerp, Turnhout, Roermond, Cologne, Trier and Dinant. This attractive map is presented in a cream-colored mat measuring 30" wide x 27.5" high. There is a central fold, as issued. There is minimal spotting in the upper margin and a tiny spot in the right lower margin, which are under the mat. The map is otherwise in excellent condition. The Visscher family were one of the great cartographic families of the 17th century. Begun by Claes Jansz Visscher...

This large original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of southern Greece and the Pelopponese Peninsula entitled "La Moree Et Les Isles De Zante, Cefalonie, Ste. Marie, Cerigo & C...

This is a scarce richly hand colored copper plate engraved map of Africa entitled "Guinea Propria, nec non Nigritiae vel Terrae Nigrorum Maxima Pars" by Johann Baptist Homann (1664-1...

A framed hand-colored 16th century map of Northern Scotland by Gerard Mercator entitled "Scotiae pars Septentrionalis", published in Amsterdam in 1636. It is a highly detailed map of the northern part of Scotland, with the northwest Highlands and the cities Inverness and Aberdeen, as well as the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides. There is a decorative title cartouche in the upper left corner. The map is presented in an antiqued brown wood...

This is a framed hand-colored 17th century map of Northern Scotland by Gerard Mercator entitled "Scotiae pars Septentrionalis", published in Amsterdam in 1636. It is a highly detailed map of the northern part of Scotland, with the northwest Highlands and the cities Inverness and Aberdeen, as well as the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides. There is a decorative title cartouche in the upper left corner. The map is presented in an antiqued brown wood...

A hand colored 17th century map of the southern portions of Holland by Nicolaus (Nicolas) Visscher II entitled "Hollandiae pars Meridionalis, vulgo Zuyd-Holland", published in Amsterdam in 1678. The map shows the region between Breda, Heusden, Gornichem, Gouda, Dordrecht, and Willemstad. It includes a decorative cartouche in the lower left corner. The map is presented in an attractive maple colored wood frame with gold trim and a fabric mat. The Visscher family were one of the great cartographic families of the 17th century. Begun by Claes Jansz Visscher...

This is a hand-colored double page copperplate map of Great Britain entitled "Nieuwe Kaart van de Eilanden van Groot Brittannien Behelzende de Kon...

A 17th century copperplate hand-colored map entitled "The Second Table of Ireland, Udrone" by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius, published in Amsterdam in 1635 in 'Cosmographicall ...

A 17th century copperplate hand-colored map entitled "The Sixt Table of England" by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius, published in Amsterdam in 1635 in 'Cosmographicall Descriptio...

An 18th century copper plate hand-colored map entitled "Insulae Danicae in Mari Balthico Sitae utpote Zeelandia, Fionia, Langelandia, Lalandia, Falstria, Fembria Mona" created by Joh...

An attractive original early 18th century hand-colored map of the Black Sea and Turkey entitled "Carte de L'Asie Minevre ou de la Natolie et du Pont Evxin Tiree des Voyages et des Ob...

1633 map, entitled "La douche de Berry," Hand Colored Ric.0005 Description: 1633 map, entitled "La douche de Berry," Dimension: Paper: 23.3" W x 20.3" H (59 cm W x 51.7 cm H) ; ...

This hand colored 17th century Dutch map entitled "Novissima et Accuratissima totius Italiae Corsicae et Sardiniae Descriptio" by Theodore Danckerts depicts the Italian Peninsula in ...

This detailed Dutch map entitled "Het Beloofe de Landt Canaan door wandelt van onsen Salichmaecker Iesu Christo, nessens syne Apostelen" by Nicolaes Visscher was published in Amsterd...

1762 Vaugondy map, entitled "Berrl Nivernois Bourbonois Lyonois, Bourgone, Bresse, Et Franche-Comte," Ric.b003 About this Item A fine Copperplate Engraving with original han...

1657 Janssonius map of Vermandois and Cappelle Ric.a004 Description: Antique map of France titled 'Descriptio Veromanduorum - Gouvernement de la Cappelle'. Two detailed maps o...

1646 Jansson map entitled "Procinvia connactiae," Ric.a006 Description: The PROVINCE of CONNAVGT 490 x 380From vol 4 of Jansson's Atlas Novus 1646, published in Amsterdam with...

1635 Willem Blaeu map of northern France, entitled. "Comitatvs Bellovacvm Vernacule Beavvais," Colored Ric.a008 “COMITATVS BELLOVACVM…” Amsterdam: W...

1790 Thomas Stackhouse map, entitled "Russia in Europe" Ric.a004 Stackhouse, Thomas Russia in Europe [map] London: T. Stackhouse, 1783. Map. Matted hand-colored copper engraving. Image size: 14.5 x 15.25 inches. Mat size: 22.75 x 23.75 inches. A beautiful example of this map of Eastern Europe...

1633 map, entitled "La douche de Berry," Hand Colored Ric.0005 Description: 1633 map, entitled "La douche de Berry," Dimension: Paper: 23.3" W x 20.3" H (59 cm W x 51.7 c...

A 1714 Henri Chatelain map, entitled "Nouvelle Carte Des Etatas Du Grand Duc De Moscovie En Europe," Ricb001 Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743) was a Huguenot pastor of Parisi...

1627 map entitled "Loudunois," Signed on the Back Ric.a013 cartography close up double-page hand-colored elevated view no person print hand-tinted hilly close-up early 17th-...

This is an antique lithography map of Durham. An English, framed engraving of cartographic interest, dating to the early 18th century and later, circa 1720. Superb lithography of Du...

French copper engraved hand colored map of Carolina & Georgia matted under glass with a painted frame, mid-18th century

A new map of the southern part of Scotland containing the counties of Stirling, Lanerk, Renfrew, Linlithgow, Edinburgh, Peebles, Haddingtoun, Berwick, Selkirk, Roxburgh, Dumfries, Wigtoun, Kirkudbright & Air Published by Alex Hogg at the Kings Arms...

A beautiful, highly detailed map of southeastern Europe by Nicolas Visscher. Includes regions of Northern Italy (showing the cities Bologna, Padua, and Venice), Bohemia, Austria (sho...

The Road from London to Yarmouth com. Norfolk. By John Ogilby, His Majesties Cosmographer. Containing 122 miles, 5 furlongs. No 54. From Standard in Co...

Small collection of four engraved maps of Italy, Balkan and of Central Asia. Two are of Italy, one Corsica and Northern Italy and the other of the Southern Italian boot...

From John Ogilby's, 'Britannia, an Illustration of the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales'. First published in 1675 it remains the greatest advance ...

A Map of Kyle & Carrick Aireshire Thomas Kitchen 1749 In original black and gold frame Just purchased more information to follow MAKER Thomas Kitchin (1718-1784) English engrave...

A road map from Britannia, by John Ogilby Esq., Cosmographer and Geographick Printer to Charles II. Containing 293 miles. No 32. From Standard in Cornhill London to Andover thence to Amesbury, to Shruton, to Warminster, to Maiden-Bradley, to Bruton, to Weston, to Ascot and to Bridgewater Hand coloured, some foxing and creasing, commensurate with age. Floated in a cream mount with a gilded linear border within a burr walnut, ebonised and gilded frame. Provenance : purchased as pair from a collector with no 15 London to St Davids. Framed as a pair. Measures: Black Linear Border around Map Length 44cm., 17 1/8" Height 36cm., 14". Full Sheet Length 51cm., 20" Height 39cm., 15 1/4" Frame Length 62cm., 24 1/2 " Height 52cm., 20 1/2" Literature: In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started in his sixty-sixth year, as a publisher of maps and geographical accounts. Ogilby was born outside Dundee, in 1600, the son of a Scottish gentleman. While he was still a child, the family moved to London. When the elder Ogilby was imprisoned for debt, the young John invested his savings in a lottery, won a minor prize, and settled his father's debts. Unfortunately, not enough money was left to secure John a good apprenticeship; instead, he was apprenticed to a dance master. Ogilby was soon dancing in masques at court but, one day, while executing a particularly ambitious leap, he landed badly. The accident left him with a permanent limp, and ended his dancing career. However, he had come to the attention of Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford, Charles I's most senior minister. Ever one to exploit his contacts, Ogilby became a dance instructor in Strafford's household. When Strafford was sent to Ireland, Ogilby accompanied him as Deputy-Master of the Kings Revels, and then Master of Revels. In Dublin, he built the New Theatre, in St. Werburgh Street, which prospered at first, but the Irish Rebellion, in 1641, cost Ogilby his fortune, which he estimated at £2,000, and almost his life. After brief service as a soldier, he returned to England, survived shipwreck on the way, and arrived back penniless. On his return, Ogilby turned his attention to the Latin classics, as a translator and publisher. His first faltering attempt, in 1649, was a translation of the works of Virgil, but after his marriage to a wealthy widow the same year, his publishing activities received a considerable boost. One means by which Ogilby financed these volumes was by subscription, securing advance payments from his patrons, in return for including their name and coats-of-arms on the plates of illustrations. Another approach was to secure a patron, preferably in the court circle. Ogilby's first patron was Strafford, who found out too late that all leading ministers are dispensable when Charles I assented to his execution in 1641. As he re-established himself, Ogilby sought a new patron, the King himself. In 1661, Ogilby was approached to write poetry for Charles II's coronation procession; he later published 'The Relation of His Majesties Entertainment Passing Through the City of London', and a much enlarged edition the following year, which included a Fine set of plates depicting the procession. Royal favour was bestowed in 1674 when John Ogilby received the title of 'His Majesty's Cosmographer and Geographick Printer' with a salary of £13.6s.8d per annum. In 1665, Ogilby left London to avoid the Plague then ravaging the capital. The following year, in the Great Fire of London, Ogilby claimed that he lost his entire stock of books valued at some £3,000, as well as his shop and house, leaving him worth just £5. As he sought to restore his fortunes, Ogilby was already looking in new directions. The initial opportunity he seized on was the reconstruction of London's burnt-out centre. He secured appointment as a 'sworn viewer', whose duty was to establish the property boundaries as they existed before the Fire. Ogilby was assisted in the project by his step-grandson, William Morgan...

A general map of Bedfordshire with its hundreds A scale of 5 miles in the original green mount and traditional black and gold frame. Measures: 36cm 14" high.

La Terre Sainte, The Holy Land, Tiree Des Memoires De M.De.La Rue. Par N. de Fer. Geographe de Sa Majeste Catoliq et de Monseigneur le Dauphin. Avec Privil du Roi 1703 Detailed map of the Holy Land from Nicholas de Fer's L'Atlas Curieux ou le Monde. East is oriented at the top. MAKER Nicolas de Fer 1646-1720 The French cartographer and engraver, Nicolas de Fer, was a master at creating maps that were works of art. The maps that he published were printed during the Baroque period when the decorative arts were characterized by ornate detail. De Fer’s detailed maps and atlases were valued more for their decorative content than their geographical accuracy. Nicolas de Fer was born in 1646. His father, Antoine de Fer, owned a mapmaking firm. At the age of twelve, Nicolas was apprenticed to a Parisian engraver named Louis Spirinx. The family business was starting to decline when his father died in 1673. Nicolas de Fer’s mother, Genevieve, took over the business after the death of her husband. In 1687 the business was passed on to Nicolas and the profits increased after he took over the firm. Nicolas de Fer was a prolific cartographer who produced atlases and hundreds of single maps. He eventually became the official geographer to King Louis XIV of France and King Philip V...

John Ogilby (British 1600-1676) Cosmographer and Geographick Printer to Charles II. A road map from Britannia, 1675/6. No 15. The continuation of the r...

This is an 18th century hand-colored map of the western portions of North America entitled "Carte de la Californie et des Pays Nord-Ouest separés de l'Asie par le détroit d'Anian, ex...

An early 18th century hand-colored copper-plate map entitled "Regni Sueciae in omnes suas Subjacentes Provincias accurate divisi Tabula Generalis" by Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724...

Jacques Bellin's copper-plate map of the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts entitled "Carte De De l'Isle St. Christophe Pour servir á l'Histoire Genle. des V...

A 1562 map of Toscana Nuova Tavola by Girolamo Ruscelli. Tuscany is the heart of Italy & birthplace of the Italian language. Early hand-coloring. Copper plate engraving. Interestingl...

This hand-colored map of Sweden and adjacent portions of Scandinavia entitled "Regni Sueciae in Omnes suas Subjacentes Provincias accurate divisi Tabula Generalis" was created by Joh...

John Ogilby (British 1600-1676) cosmographer and geographick printer to Charles II. A road map from Britannia, 1675/6. No 5, The road from London to Barwick: London to Stilton In a grey painted and gilded frame. In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started in his sixty-sixth year, as a publisher of maps and geographical accounts. Ogilby was born outside Dundee, in 1600, the son of a Scottish gentleman. While he was still a child, the family moved to London. When the elder Ogilby was imprisoned for debt, the young John invested his savings in a lottery, won a minor prize, and settled his father's debts. Unfortunately, not enough money was left to secure John a good apprenticeship; instead, he was apprenticed to a dance master. Ogilby was soon dancing in masques at court but, one day, while executing a particularly ambitious leap, he landed badly. The accident left him with a permanent limp, and ended his dancing career. However, he had come to the attention of Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford, Charles I's most senior minister. Ever one to exploit his contacts, Ogilby became a dance instructor in Strafford's household. When Strafford was sent to Ireland, Ogilby accompanied him as Deputy-Master of the Kings Revels, and then Master of Revels. In Dublin, he built the New Theatre, in St. Werburgh Street, which prospered at first, but the Irish Rebellion, in 1641, cost Ogilby his fortune, which he estimated at £2,000, and almost his life. After brief service as a soldier, he returned to England, survived shipwreck on the way, and arrived back penniless. On his return, Ogilby turned his attention to the Latin classics, as a translator and publisher. His first faltering attempt, in 1649, was a translation of the works of Virgil, but after his marriage to a wealthy widow the same year, his publishing activities received a considerable boost. One means by which Ogilby financed these volumes was by subscription, securing advance payments from his patrons, in return for including their name and coats-of-arms on the plates of illustrations. Another approach was to secure a patron, preferably in the court circle. Ogilby's first patron was Strafford, who found out too late that all leading ministers are dispensable when Charles I assented to his execution in 1641. As he re-established himself, Ogilby sought a new patron, the King himself. In 1661, Ogilby was approached to write poetry for Charles II's coronation procession; he later published 'The Relation of His Majesties Entertainment Passing Through the City of London', and a much enlarged edition the following year, which included a Fine set of plates depicting the procession. Royal favour was bestowed in 1674 when John Ogilby received the title of 'His Majesty's Cosmographer and Geographick Printer' with a salary of £13.6s.8d per annum. In 1665, Ogilby left London to avoid the Plague then ravaging the capital. The following year, in the Great Fire of London, Ogilby claimed that he lost his entire stock of books valued at some £3,000, as well as his shop and house, leaving him worth just £5. As he sought to restore his fortunes, Ogilby was already looking in new directions. The initial opportunity he seized on was the reconstruction of London's burnt-out centre. He secured appointment as a "sworn viewer", whose duty was to establish the property boundaries as they existed before the Fire. Ogilby was assisted in the project by his step-grandson, William Morgan, and by a number of professional surveyors. The result was an outstanding plan of London, on a scale of 100 feet to an inch, on 20 sheets, although it was not printed until after Ogilby's death. Ogilby then turned his attention to publishing geographical descriptions of the wider-world. In 1667, he issued 'An Embassy from the East India Company of the United Provinces to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China.' Buoyed by the response to this volume, Ogilby conceived an ambitious project, a multi-volume description of the world. The volumes were joint collaborations, in conjunction with the Dutch publisher Jacob van Meurs. 'Africa', published in 1670, was the least original of the three, both in terms of the text, maps and illustrations. In a similar vein, he issued the 'Atlas Japannensis' (1670), the 'Atlas Chinensis' (1671), and 'Asia' (1673). In 1671, Ogilby published the 'America', translated from Arnold Montanus' Dutch text. The 'America' is certainly the most original, and most important, of Ogilby's various geographical volumes, and its influence and popularity was immediate. With its completion, Ogilby turned to a project nearer his heart, the description of Britain. Ogilby originally intended to devote one volume to Britain, but as the project evolved, he became more ambitious, as revealed in a prospectus issued in about 1672: "This having oblig'd our Author to take new Measures ... to compleat within the space of two Years a Work ... considering the Actual survey of the Kingdom, the Delineation and Dimensuration of the Roads, the Prospects and Ground plots of Cities, with other Ornamentals ... into six fair volumes. The Four first comprehending the historical and geographical description of England, with the County-Maps truly and actually survey'd. ... The fifth containing an Ichnographical and Historical Description of all the Principal Road-ways in England and Wales, in two hundred copper sculptures, after a new and exquisite method. The sixth containing a New and Accurate Description of the famous City of London, with the perfect Ichnography thereof ..." In the proposals, Ogilby emphasised the scale of the undertaking; no-one before him had attempted such a vast project. He estimated the total costs would be £20,000, a staggering amount. The cost of the complete set of six volumes was to be £34. At that time, Wenceslas Hollar...

This hand-colored sea chart of the area around Dartmouth, England is from "Great Britain's Coasting Pilot. Being a New and Exact Survey of the Sea-Coast of England", first published ...

This hand-colored sea chart of the area around Plymouth, England from "Great Britain's Coasting Pilot. Being a New and Exact Survey of the Sea-Coast of England", first published in 1...

This hand-colored sea chart is entitled "Edinburgh Firth" from "Great Britain's Coasting Pilot. Being a New and Exact Survey of the Sea-Coast of England" by Captain Greenville Collin...

This attractive highly detailed 17th century original hand-colored map is entitled "Archiepiscopatus Maghdeburgensis et Anhaltinus Ducatus cum terris adjacentibus". It was published ...

"Archiducatus Austriae inferioris" is a hand colored map of Austria created by Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724) and published in Nuremberg, Germany in 1728 shortly after his death. ...

An early hand-colored map of Britain's Hampshire county, published in the 1607 edition of William Camden's great historical description of the British Isles, "Britannia". This map was drawn by cartographer John Norden (c. 1547-1625) and engraved by William Hole (active 1607-1624) and William Kip...

This detailed hand-colored map of South America by Thomas Jefferys was published in London in 1750. The map shows countries, early colonial possessions, towns, rivers, mountains, and...

"Rupes Allobrogum vulgo La Roche" by Dutch engraver Coenraet Decker (1650-1685) is from the atlas Theatrum Statuum Regiae Celestudinis Sabaudiae Ducis, published in 1682. This richly...

The road from London to the lands end. Commencing at the Standard in Cornhill and extending to Senan in Cornwall. By John Ogilby His Majesties Cosmographer. A road map from Britannia, 1675/6. No 25. Continuing 308 miles, 3 furlongs. London Southwark to Brentford, to Hampton Court, to Hounslow, to Windsor, to Cobham, to Farnham, to Basingstoke to Winchester The handcoloured sheet free floated. In a brown painted and gilded, ogee moulded frame. Some foxing and creasing, uneven edge of sheet, all commensurate with age Provenance : purchased as pair from a collector with no 15 London to St David's. Framed as a pair. Sheet width 48cm., 19 ”., height 38cm., 15 “ Frame width 66.5cm., 26”., height 56cm., 22 ” In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started i Black Linear Border around Map Length 44cm., 17 1/8" Height 32cm., 12 1/2" Full Sheet Length 58cm., 22 3/4" Height 38cm., 15" Frame Length 66cm., 26"., Height 56cm., 22" In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started in his sixty-sixth year, as a publisher of maps and geographical accounts. Ogilby was born outside Dundee, in 1600, the son of a Scottish gentleman. While he was still a child, the family moved to London. When the elder Ogilby was imprisoned for debt, the young John invested his savings in a lottery, won a minor prize, and settled his father's debts. Unfortunately, not enough money was left to secure John a good apprenticeship; instead, he was apprenticed to a dance master. Ogilby was soon dancing in masques at court but, one day, while executing a particularly ambitious leap, he landed badly. The accident left him with a permanent limp, and ended his dancing career. However, he had come to the attention of Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford, Charles I's most senior minister. Ever one to exploit his contacts, Ogilby became a dance instructor in Strafford's household. When Strafford was sent to Ireland, Ogilby accompanied him as Deputy-Master of the Kings Revels, and then Master of Revels. In Dublin, he built the New Theatre, in St. Werburgh Street, which prospered at first, but the Irish Rebellion, in 1641, cost Ogilby his fortune, which he estimated at £2,000, and almost his life. After brief service as a soldier, he returned to England, survived shipwreck on the way, and arrived back penniless. On his return, Ogilby turned his attention to the Latin classics, as a translator and publisher. His first faltering attempt, in 1649, was a translation of the works of Virgil, but after his marriage to a wealthy widow the same year, his publishing activities received a considerable boost. One means by which Ogilby financed these volumes was by subscription, securing advance payments from his patrons, in return for including their name and coats-of-arms on the plates of illustrations. Another approach was to secure a patron, preferably in the court circle. Ogilby's first patron was Strafford, who found out too late that all leading ministers are dispensable when Charles I assented to his execution in 1641. As he re-established himself, Ogilby sought a new patron, the King himself. In 1661, Ogilby was approached to write poetry for Charles II's coronation procession; he later published 'The Relation of His Majesties Entertainment Passing Through the City of London', and a much enlarged edition the following year, which included a fine set of plates depicting the procession. Royal favour was bestowed in 1674 when John Ogilby received the title of 'His Majesty's Cosmographer and Geographick Printer' with a salary of £13.6s.8d per annum. In 1665, Ogilby left London to avoid the Plague then ravaging the capital. The following year, in the Great Fire of London, Ogilby claimed that he lost his entire stock of books valued at some £3,000, as well as his shop and house, leaving him worth just £5. As he sought to restore his fortunes, Ogilby was already looking in new directions. The initial opportunity he seized on was the reconstruction of London's burnt-out centre. He secured appointment as a "sworn viewer", whose duty was to establish the property boundaries as they existed before the Fire. Ogilby was assisted in the project by his step-grandson, William Morgan...

The Road from Ipswich com Suffolk to Norwich and thence to cromer on the sea coast com Norfolk. By John Ogilby, Esq, His Majesties Cosmographer. Containing...

The Road from Kings Lyn Co Norfolk to Harwich Co Essex. By John Ogilby His Majesties Cosmographer. Containing 76 miles, 1 furlong. From Lyn to Swaffam, to Stanford, to Thetford, To Icksworth, to Stowmarket, to Ipswich and to Harwich including ye Ferry, No 75, inscribed in pencil 1698 Hand colored and floated in the original black and gold frame, c1961. Some creasing commensurate with age. The back of the frame inscribed May 1961. Provenance : Private Collection, acquired c1961, along with No 74 Ipswich to Norwich & No 54 London to Yarmouth. All in the original black and gold frames. Sheet width 45cm., 17 ¾”., height 34.5cm., 13 ½“ Frame width 50cm 19 ¾”., height 40cm., 15 ¾” Literature: In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started in his sixty-sixth year, as a publisher of maps and geographical accounts. Ogilby was born outside Dundee, in 1600, the son of a Scottish gentleman. While he was still a child, the family moved to London. When the elder Ogilby was imprisoned for debt, the young John invested his savings in a lottery, won a minor prize, and settled his father's debts. Unfortunately, not enough money was left to secure John a good apprenticeship; instead, he was apprenticed to a dance master. Ogilby was soon dancing in masques at court but, one day, while executing a particularly ambitious leap, he landed badly. The accident left him with a permanent limp, and ended his dancing career. However, he had come to the attention of Thomas Wentworth, later Earl of Strafford, Charles I's most senior minister. Ever one to exploit his contacts, Ogilby became a dance instructor in Strafford's household. When Strafford was sent to Ireland, Ogilby accompanied him as Deputy-Master of the Kings Revels, and then Master of Revels. In Dublin, he built the New Theatre, in St. Werburgh Street, which prospered at first, but the Irish Rebellion, in 1641, cost Ogilby his fortune, which he estimated at £2,000, and almost his life. After brief service as a soldier, he returned to England, survived shipwreck on the way, and arrived back penniless. On his return, Ogilby turned his attention to the Latin classics, as a translator and publisher. His first faltering attempt, in 1649, was a translation of the works of Virgil, but after his marriage to a wealthy widow the same year, his publishing activities received a considerable boost. One means by which Ogilby financed these volumes was by subscription, securing advance payments from his patrons, in return for including their name and coats-of-arms on the plates of illustrations. Another approach was to secure a patron, preferably in the court circle. Ogilby's first patron was Strafford, who found out too late that all leading ministers are dispensable when Charles I assented to his execution in 1641. As he re-established himself, Ogilby sought a new patron, the King himself. In 1661, Ogilby was approached to write poetry for Charles II's coronation procession; he later published 'The Relation of His Majesties Entertainment Passing Through the City of London', and a much enlarged edition the following year, which included a Fine set of plates depicting the procession. Royal favour was bestowed in 1674 when John Ogilby received the title of 'His Majesty's Cosmographer and Geographick Printer' with a salary of £13.6s.8d per annum. In 1665, Ogilby left London to avoid the Plague then ravaging the capital. The following year, in the Great Fire of London, Ogilby claimed that he lost his entire stock of books valued at some £3,000, as well as his shop and house, leaving him worth just £5. As he sought to restore his fortunes, Ogilby was already looking in new directions. The initial opportunity he seized on was the reconstruction of London's burnt-out centre. He secured appointment as a 'sworn viewer', whose duty was to establish the property boundaries as they existed before the Fire. Ogilby was assisted in the project by his step-grandson, William Morgan...

“Afbeeldinge der Stad Amsterdam, gelyk deselve in den jaren 1536 door Cornelis Antonisz na ’t leven is geschildert, en Ao 1544 in druk uytgegeven.”, engraved by Joost van Sassen and ...

Rare map of The Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, including Alderney & the Scilly Islands just purchased more information to follow In the original cream mount and gilded frame.

A general map of Bedfordshire with its hundreds. Measure: 37cm 14 1/2" high A scale of 5 miles. in the original green mount and traditional black and gold frame. charming map with...

A modern map of Shropshire Drawn from the latest surveys corrected and improved by the best authorities. Artist Joseph Ellis sculptor. Joseph Ellis was an engraver and publisher from Clerkenwell in London and was apprenticed to Richard William Seale in 1749. He is best know to county map collectors for The New English Atlas published in 1765 which was later reissued as Ellis's English Atlas in 1766, 1768 1777, 1786, 1790 and 1796. Maker carington bowles 1724 - 1793. Carington Bowles worked in London as a publisher in partnership with his father John Bowles from about 1752 until 1763. Carington Bowles worked as a publisher in partnership with his father John Bowles from about 1752 until 1763 before taking over his uncle's business. His address was 69 St. Pauls Church Yard, London. He worked with a number of well known cartographers of the day including Emanuel Bowen, Thomas Kitchin, Robert Sayer...

“Platte grond der Stad Utrecht vertonende alle Gragten, Straaten, Stegen, Gangen, Markten, en plaatsen der openbare Gebouwen”, engraving published by Johannes van Schoonhoven in Amst...

John Ogilby (British 1600-1676) Cosmographer and Geographick Printer to Charles II. A road map from Britannia, 1675/6. The road from London to Kings Lynn, showing Royston to Downham. In oak and gilded frame. In a remarkable life John Ogilby pursued, several careers, each ending in misfortune, and yet he always emerged undeterred, to carry on. His modern reputation is based on his final career, started in his sixty-sixth year, as a publisher of maps and geographical accounts. Ogilby was born outside Dundee, in 1600, the son of a Scottish gentleman...

Map of Lancashire by John Cary engraver published 1st Jan 1793 by J Cary Engraver & Mapseller Strand in original black and gold classic map frame