1676        MORDEN, Robert 

Although not strictly adhering to the concept of a road book or a road map, Robert Morden´s set of playing cards has been included here for their significance as the first set of maps of England and Wales to show roads. Some 80 years after the first appearance of maps on playing cards (by Bowes in 1590 BB2 and 1605 BB3) both Robert Morden and William Redmayne produced packs of cards of English and Welsh counties with Morden’s being advertised in the Easter Term Catalogue of 1676 as The 52 Countries of England and Wales.

There were 54 cards in Morden’s set with the description and title on the first and a general map on the second. The Northern counties are represented by Clubs, Eastern counties by Hearts, Southern counties by Diamonds and the Welsh counties by Spades. All the Kings were portraits of King Charles II in a circle and each Queen was a head of Catherine of Braganza. The suit marks, when desired, were stencilled on by hand. For most counties, including, Devon this was the first map to give an indication of the roads, ostensibly taken from John Ogilby’s strip road maps of 1675; however, taking Devon as an example, the main road from Exeter to Plymouth bypasses Chudleigh and the road Exeter-Torrington is not in Ogilby. As spellings vary considerably several engravers may have been employed.

The maps are either found as playing card sets or bound with the cards mounted in a pocket atlas duodecimo, preceded by a title page bearing the title from type. The last known 17th-century edition of Morden’s cards appeared in 1680, only four years after their first appearance. Copies of these cards by John Lenthall appeared in 1711 (BB23). The original maps reappeared post-1772 without suitmarks but with a page of accompanying text giving county history, topography and other relevant information, printed for H Turpin, 104 St John’s Street, West Smithfield. Homan Turpin was in business at this address 1764-87; the publication is not listed in his catalogues of 1770 and 1772. The first state was issued in facsimile edition by Harry Margary of Lympne Castle in 1972.

Southwest interest: The simple maps show the post road - Axminster, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro. And the cross roads: Exeter to Bradninch and then to Bampton (Bristol) or Columpton - Exeter to Crediton and then to Ilfracomb or Bediford - Ashburton to Modberry - Ilfracomb to Bediford and into Cornwall - Exeter to Tavston and into Cornwall. Three roads shown in Cornwall: Launston to Camelford to Truro; another road to Truro through Lisker and Grmpont; and the road from Plymouth to Truro: this then continues on to Market Jew.

 Devon Sh: and IX and Cornwall and X

With a red diamond stencilled in top panel. Arabic numeral 9/10 is added left. Neighbouring counties not named. Towns shown by circles.

The 52 Counties of England and Wales
London. Robert Morden, Will Berry, Robert Green &  George Minikin. 1676. (BL, W, GL).
Or mounted and bound as an atlas without suit marks. (W).

Neighbouring counties now named (Pt. of …) in Devon but no change to Cornwall.
The 52 Counties of England and Wales Second Edition
London. Morden, Berry, Green and Minikin. 1676. (BL).

Additions, eg in Devon Sheepwash, Dodbrook, Topsham added and Horton altered to Hartland; Killington, Newport and War added in Cornwall and road from Market Jew continues westwards. Towns are now shown with church-like signs.

a) With stencilled suitmarks bound in volume.
The 52 Counties of England and Wales Third Edition
London. Morden, Berry, Green and Minikin. (1680). [Gard.].

b) Without suitmarks in book form - (8vo) maps mounted two to a page
A Pocket Book of all the Counties of England and Wales
London. Robert Morden and Joseph Pask. (1680). (BL).

A Brief Description of England and Wales
London. H Turpin. (1773). (BL, W).

 

Cornwall 1676 (Bonhams) and 1773 (both images Daniel Crouch).        

  

Devon Sh. 1676, 1676 and 1680.

 

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1677 ADAMS, John

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