1667       STENT, Peter

As one reviewer writes: in the 17th century, Peter Stent, whose shop stood just outside Newgate, was England's most prolific seller of popular prints, maps, and copybooks to the working and rising middle classes. His inventory of copper plates reflected the shifts of popular tastes during this period and commented directly on the turbulent events of the day.[1]

Writing about Wenceslas Hollar (cf) and Peter Stent, the contributor to British Printed Images to 1700 notes: print production burgeoned more generally in the middle decades of the (17^th) century. Here, the key figure was the dealer, Peter Stent, who flourished from  c. 1642 until his death in the Great Plague in 1665. It is distinctly possible that the Civil War … led to a rising demand for topical engravings which made possible their production and dissemination on a commercial scale that had not previously been viable.

Stent mass-produced all manner of engravings of subjects linked to the War. In an advertisement of 1654, he included portraits, genre prints, sets of engravings of flowers and animals, maps and copy books. Stent employed a range of artists, including Hollar, whose map of England (see Hollar / Place) might have been published by Stent if he had not succumbed to the Plague.[2] His stock then passed to John Overton who quickly added his imprint to the plates.

This is a scarce separate-issue map of England and Wales, first issued by Stent in 1662. Stent acknowledges his source for the map as John Speed ('J.S.'), but has replaced Speed's costume panels with 29 city prospects, all English, including pre-fire London. The style of the engraved script suggests the map was etched by Wenceslas Hollar.[3]

There are 29 views of towns including Exeter. Only one road is shown in the West, that of Exeter to Plymouth. 

A New Map of the Kingdome of England and Principality of Wales taken out of I.S. (John Speed). Printed and are to be sold by Peter Stent, at the White Horse in Giltspur Street without Newgat, 1662. Size: 395 x 505 mm. 

The map was first issued in 1662 (BL, B).

Second issue dated 1665 (BL).

Third issue 1667 with post roads added (following the Hollar-Place map of 1667). (Royal Library, Windsor).

A further issue but dated 1665 had the imprint and address of John Overton at neere St Pulcher´s church. (AL).

A second Overton issue dated 1673 with this London address. (CB illustrated above).

Sixth issue dated 1673 with Overton´s new address, at the White Lion without Newgate. (P illustrated below).

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[1] Globe, Alexander V.. Peter Stent, London Printseller, University of British Columbia Press, 1985. https://doi.org/10.59962/9780774857161

[2] https://bpi1700.org.uk/resources/history_theageofhollarandstent.html

[3] Description and illustration from Altea Gallery, London.