1644 / 1671           JENNER, Thomas & HOLLAR, Wenceslaus - “Quartermaster’s map.” 

Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-77) was born in Prague, trained in Germany but worked in England from 1636. Eight years later, he was employed by Thomas Jenner to etch a six-sheet map of England and Wales, based on Christopher Saxton's wall map. This was published in 1644, during the English Civil War, by Thomas Jenner (who favoured the Parliamentary cause). Most of the etching was done by Wenceslaus Hollar (who favoured the Royalist cause, but still had to make a living). The title page of the small booklet holding the maps describes it as The Kingdome of England & Principality of Wales, Exactly described with euery Sheere, and …Vsefull for all Com[m]anders for Quarteringe of Souldiers.

The maps were re-printed three, or possibly four, times between 1644 and 1688, Early editions do not show any roads, and only have a naive compass indicator at the mouth of the River Humber. According to Shirley (1991[1]), Jenner reprinted the map until 1671 before John Garrett introduced roads and the map set was sold in 1675 (printed on silk) as well as 1676 and 1687/1688[2]. The 1676 edition which was issued by Garrett included the addition of further roads based upon detail in John Ogilby's atlas of 1675. The roads on the Durham copy are identical to those shown on the 1671 map but the title page imprint has been altered.

The map was advertised in 1688:  The Quarter-Master's Maps, Or the Kingdom of England and Principality of Wales; with the Small Towns, Post-Roads, and Cross-Roads, described : so ordered, as to lye in a Vellum-Case eight Inches long and three Inches broad; with a Letter-case fit for the Pocket. Price 3s.; each Shire divided, 3s. 6d.; Set on Cloath, etc., us. Sold by J. Garrett, next the Stairs of the Royal Exchange, Cornhill.

The plates then passed on to Robert Sayer, for the map is listed in his catalogue of 1788. In 1794 Laurie & Whittle took over Sayer's stock, and the map appears in their catalogue of 1800. But its usefulness cartographically had vanished, since it is advertised in 1813 as "much esteemed by antiquaries"

Six sheets approx. 400 mm x 520 mm each and folding to fit case approx. 220 mm x 90 mm.

 

The Kingdome of England & Principality of Wales, Exactly described with euery Sheere, & the small townes in euery one of them, in six Mappes. Portable for euery Mans Pocket… …Vsefull for all Com[m]anders for Quarteringe of Souldiers, & all sorts of Persons, that would be informed, Where the Armies be; neuer so Commodiously drawne before this 1644. Imprint below title: Described by one that trauailed throughout/the whole kingdome, for its purpose. /Sold by Thomas Jenner at the South entrance of ye Exchange, W : Hollar fecit.

 [London]: Sold by Thomas Ienner at the South entrance of ye Exchange 1644, 1644 (1650).

(BL, FLS illustrated, NT Kingston Lacy; BL).

 

Undated the southeast section includes (between title panel and Isle of Wight): Printed Coloured and/Sold by John Garrett at the South Entrance/of the Royall Exchange in London. The later editions updated the ending for post-war use (hence its usual title), making it “Vsefull for all Gentlemen and Travellors and all sorts of Persons that would be Informed of the Distance of Places” instead.[3] Roads added. The map was again advertised for sale by Garrett in 1718.

 [London] : Printed and sold by John Garrett at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1671, (1673), (1676), (1688), (1690) (B[4]; Durham; B, NLS, NLW, Winchester, W; BL, B; BL).

 

John Rocque published two late editions in 1752 and 1799. These have extra text on the south west sheet: Carte de l'Angleterre et d'une Partie d'Ecosse Gravee par le Celebre Hollar. Cette Carte a ete Réduite d'après les Provinces de Mr. Saxton Par ordre d'Oliver Cromwells Pour l'usage de Ses Armées, ce qui fait qu'elle est Réputée pour être la Meilleure de l´Isle : Toutes celles qui ont ete publiées depuis n'en Sont que des Copies, elle est connuê Sous le nom de Quarter Master's Map ou Carte des Quartiers Maitres ; les Planches ont ete dans l´oubly pendant plusieurs années par le peu de connissance de Celuy qui le[s] Possédoit. elles ont eté acquises par le S^r J Rocque Chorographe de S.A.R. Monseigneur le Prince de Galles, dans le Strand A Londres 1752. le Prix est d'une demy-Guinée ou 12s. However, there is no evidence to prove that Cromwell ordered its production.[5] (B, BL).

Southwest section courtesy of Daniel Crouch

The "assembled" map, courtesy of FSL

      

The accompanying title page; 1641 at FSL and 1671 at RCT

Southwest section (detail) with Rocque title courtesy of C A Burden Ltd

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[3] Erin Blake Senior Cataloger, FLS, writing on their blog August 2020; The Quartermaster´s Map.

[1] Entry 537 in R. W. Shirley, Early Printed Maps of the British Isles. 1477 – 1650. Antique Atlas Publications; East Grinstead, UK; 1991 (revised edition).

[2] Fordham, George. “A Note on the ‘Quartermaster’s Map,’ 1644.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 70, no. 1, 1927, pp. 50–52. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1781884. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024. Fordham believed the roads were based on Lea´s map of 1687.

[4] According to JISC catalogue entry this was “the earliest edition of the “Quartermaster's Map” on which roads were inserted.

Photostats of the copy in the Bodleian Library (Wood 466)”.

[5] In his catalogue of 1788, Robert Sayer asserts 'The plates having been un-noticed for several years, by the ignorance of the Proprietor, were procured by Mr J. Rocque... in the year 1752.' There was another issue after Rocque's death in 1762, with some re-engraving of the engraved lines and a few more roads added, although Rocque's title and 1752 imprint were retained. It is Richard Gough who, in vol. 1 of his 'British Topography' of 1780 asserts that the map was 'retouched by Jefferys. Daniel Crouch catalogue.