1693 BROWNE, Christopher
Although mainly regarded as a mapseller,
printseller and bookseller, Christopher Browne was also a map publisher and the few maps he was responsible for
instigating are fairly impressive.
Christopher Browne (fl.1688-1712) was apprenticed to Robert Walton in 1683 and
after his death in 1688 took over his stock. He was not prolific as publisher
and all material associated with him is scarce. However, he was a very
successful businessman and reissued a large quantity of maps produced by
others. He did publish two large items, including the map below, A
Newe Map of
England, and
his monumental wall map, A New Mapp of the Kingdom of England, shewing Its
Antient and Present Government being Divided as in the Saxon-Heptarchy, on
15 sheets first issued by Browne in 1700 (cf.).
A
Newe Map of England engraved on two map sheets,
and produced by Christopher Browne in 1693 is a copy of the reduced 2-sheet
version of John Adams´ of 169/80 but displays certain geographical features,
mainly rivers, which did not appear on the first version. Browne also
appropriates Adams' index of all the cities and market towns, recorded in
tables down both the right and left borders. These were taken from 'A book of
the Names of all the Parishes, Market-Towns, Villages, Hamelets, Smallest
Places, in England and Wales. Alphabetically set down, as they be in every
Shire", the volume published by Thomas Jenner in 1657. These correspond to
the locations shown on the map by number, making this an aid to navigating the
country, for merchants and all other travellers although its size was less practical.
Illustrations courtesy of Daniel Crouch
The
elaborate cartouche on the lower right margin contains a note explaining that
all the cities and market towns of England and Wales are shown here, connected
to their neighbours by parallel lines representing the roads and accompanied by
circled numbers showing the distance in miles. This creates a network that
spans across all the counties, distinguished by colour outline, and can be used
to calculate how long journeys between significant locations would take. Hence,
each county has a spider web of intersecting roads.
The map was prepared for Browne´s own atlas which was first advertised in July 1693: Browne´s New Geographical Atlas which included some 70 maps. However, it was also sold separately. When the plates passed to the Bowles family and they reissued the map it carried the signature of Herman Moll. Shirley (see Browne 1) believes this may prove that Moll engraved the original plates, and now with his reputation established was in a position to have his authorship made public.
A Newe Map of England. This, in a simple oval, is separated from the dedication and imprint by single line To the most exellent Majesties of William & Mary of England, Scotland, France & Ireland King & Queen, this mapp is most humbly dedicated by your most humble servant, C: Browne ... . This is all within a large cartouche top right with an elaborately portrayed royal arms above and surrounded by baroque shells and flora and two figures with a horse. Two cartouches bottom left with explanations to which the second imprint is appended. Descript: pr Ioh: Adams, nunc recens Emand Sumptibus C: Browne. At the foot of the right hand table: London Printed & sold by Christopher Browne at ye Globe near the West End of St. Pauls. Sold also by S Paske at ye Stationers Arms on the North of ye Royall Exchange & Mris Feltham in Wetminster Hall. Further cartouche bottom left and many attractive compass roses. 1693. Size: 605 mm x 860 mm.
The 2nd issue 1703 or later. Title is now A New Map of
England or South Britaine and dedicated to Her
most Exellent Majesty Anne
Queen of Great Britain etc. The imprint
panel bottom right replaced by more information. (BL, UCLA).
The 3rd issue c.
1715 has an added signature
Engrav'd by Herman Moll Geogr and
a new imprint: Sold by T
Bowles Print and Map Seller; neer to the Chapter House in St
Pauls Church Yard London (BL, B).
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