c1690  OVERTON, John or Henry 

The Overton family became a prominent part of the printing and mapmaking industry in London in subsequent to the events surrounding the Great Plague and the Great Fire of 1665-6. John Overton (1639/40-1713) was the son of a tailor who apprenticed to Thomas Gould of the Stationer´s Guild. Made free of the Stationers’ Company in 1663, Overton took over when Peter Stent, a leading printseller, died in the plague. His premises then burned out in the fire a year later, but by 1669 Overton was working at the White Horse on Snow Hill, specialising in prints, portraits, and also maps and topographical views. It was John Overton who commissioned Nicolas Visscher to produce A New Map Of The Kingdome of England and Wales published c.1685.

John may have married three times and had seven children. His second son, Henry, was executor of John’s will when the latter died in 1713. Henry (1675/6-1751) acquired his father’s stock in 1707 and ran the shop until his own death in 1751. He published many maps, most focusing on the British Isles. His shop and stock passed to his nephew, also Henry. Henry the Elder’s brother, Philip (ca. 1681-1745), was also a printer and mapmaker. Philip served as his father’s apprentice and was made free of the Stationers’ in 1702. His father set him up in the trade in 1707 and by 1710 he was working from the sign of the Golden Buck in Fleet Street. Philip specialized in fine arts prints but he also sold many maps. At his death in 1745 he left his shop to his widow, Mary. She ran the shop and then married James Sayer, whose brother, Robert, became Mary’s assistant. He took over the business in 1748 and became a famous purveyor of maps, charts, and views.

Back at the sign of the White Horse, Henry the Younger continued the family business, expanding their stock to include a large collection of landscape views. He often partnered with Robert Sayer. He continued in business until at least 1764.

By 1690 it was apparent that the map published by John Adams, especially in its smaller format, was a financial success. Henry Overton had a new version drawn and engraved and this was on sale circa 1690. This bears the imprint of John Overton. As with Adams´ map, the towns and villages are linked by straight lines, with the mileages marked so that the distances can be ascertained without scale or compass. The localities are surrounded by circle, single line panel or double line panel depending on their size and the counties are criss-crossed with roads.

The actual date of publication of the second state of this smaller version of Adam's map of 1677 is the subject of speculation. The map appears in two completely distinct forms, and only one example of each is known, and they both seem to indicate the title panel was retouched. There is a title cartouche in the style of Visscher, but below this is a dedication to William III. However, the imprint seems to have Henry´s name superimposed over an erasure which Shirley[1] assumes to be that of Henry Overton, John´s father.

The first example of this state has an alphabetical table at each side: 29 bishoprics to left and 27 deaneries to the right. The second example dispenses with the lists and consists only of the map itself. This has been printed on silk.[2]

 

A New Mapp Of The Kingdom of England and Wales Containing all the Cities & Market Towns with the Roads from Town to Town and the Number of reputed Miles between them are given by inspection Without Scale or Compass. Printed and Sold by John Overton at the white Horse without Newgate London. 575 mm x 970 mm. (CB).

Illustrations courtesy of Lund University Library, 221 00 Lund, Sweden via online service Alvin.

On paper with lists.

Printed and Sold by Henry Overton at the white Horse without Newgate London. (BL).

On paper without lists. Size: 552 mm x 498 mm.

Printed and Sold by Henry Overton at the white Horse without Newgate London. (Lund illustrated).

On silk reduced in size.

Printed and Sold by Henry Overton at the white Horse without Newgate London. (C).

Continue to the next Road Map in chronological sequence CLICK Here 

 1690  MORDEN, Robert

 Return to the overview Road Maps to 1700 CLICK Here

---

[1] Rodney Shirley, Overton 3, (1983).

[2] Notes taken from Rodney Shirley (1983) The Overton Family (page 105-6) and the website of Barry Lawrence Ruderman.