1677 ADAMS, John
Only two maps of England and Wales, by John Adams are known and both
are very rare: a large wall map of 12 sheets from 1677, and a reduced version,
printed on two sheets, printed in 1679 (cf).
Adams was from Shropshire and after moving to London became a
barrister in the Inner Temple. It seems that for a while at least he flourished
as a surveyor or civil engineer from circa 1672 to 1688. John Adams started map-making about 1672, an early work saw him in
Aberdovey to help a Mr Lloyd of Llanvorda plan his fish marketing, whereby Adams plotted the market towns
within 100 miles of his port. On returning to London, he produced a draft in a
similar manner of the whole of England and Wales. With the help of Gregory
King, a fine 12-sheet map was published in 1677. King had helped John Ogilby in
the production of his own road atlas entitled ‘Britannia’ and would provide
much of the figures for this work.
In London he developed his technique to produce 'a large Map of England
in Trinity Term 1677 with computed and measured miles entered in Figures' (this
Angliae Totius Tabula....). It was 'full six foot square' and priced at two guineas. Topography
was not shown and settlements, represented by graded symbols, were joined by a
network of straight route lines with mileages (circles and ellipses cover the localities joined
by the lines), even if no direct road existed between some of them. From this Adams
produced a smaller map, also entitled Angliae
Totius Tabula.... which recorded in its margins
the latitude and longitude of 781 places.
The towns and villages are linked by straight lines, with the mileages
marked so that the distances can be ascertained without scale or compass. It is
not known if Adams consulted Ogilby's survey of 1675 and or the post route
tables for his road links. His distances are direct, or as the crow flies, so
understate route mileages. Adams' two maps both have a broad ornamental border,
dedicatory cartouche, and angulated rhumb lines from numerous compass roses in
the sea.[1]
Angliae Totius
Tabula Cum Distantiis Notioribus In ltinerantium Usum Accommodata. Title
written in two lines above the top border centrally flankd by scrollwork which
continues down the sodes of the outside borders. Imprint/Signature is bottom
right below an explanatory panel (Hanc Tabulam … in Latin): Johannes Adams lnterioris Templi Iunior Socius descripsit. Gregorius King Literas Sculpsit. Engraver´s signature: Thomas Burnford lineas Ellipses & Circulos sculpsit at foot of map centrally. (1677[2]).
Towns and villages are linked by straight lines. Dedicated to Charles II. No rivers. Size: 2015 x 1880 mm.
[1] Information and image of 1679 map taken from Götzfried
Antique Maps website, Tettnang Germany (1679 map). Shirley Adams 1.
[2] Advertised in Philosophical Transactions in
May 1677; see Shirley.
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