The first British atlas of Scotland, and the first road atlas of the country

Title A Set of Fifty New and Correct Maps of England and Wales.
[bound with: IBID] Scotland delineated or Thirty Six New and correct Maps of North Britain [and: IBID] A set of Twenty New and Correct Maps of Ireland.

Author MOLL, Herman

Publisher Herman Moll, Thomas Bowles and John Bowles

Publication place London

Publication date 1724, 1725, and 1728 respectively

Description

Together three works bound in one volume. 4to (215 by 178mm), 106 engraved general, regional and county maps, in fine contemporary outline colour, contemporary calf, a few maps shaved at upper and lower margins, corners of binding worn, rebacked retaining original spine.

The first work with letterpress title incorporating index, 50 engraved maps; the second with letterpress title incorporating index, and 36 engraved maps; the third with letterpress title incorporating index, and 20 engraved maps (one folding and including a table)

Notes

It is rare to find the three atlases bound together. The Scotland atlas is the first English atlas of that country.

The commercial success of Moll's atlas of England and Wales inevitably led to thoughts of a comparable volume on Scotland. Whilst Blaeu's landmark atlas of 1654 had been a great success it was not only seventy years out of date but primarily something for the library, and it was therefore an appropriate time to publish a new and relatively portable work.

Moll's atlas comprises two general maps and thirty four of the shires of similar size to the English volume and was first published in 1725. A note on the reverse of the title-page draws attention to the contributions of Timothy Pont, Robert Gordon, and John Adair, whilst a further leaf of text contained a description "Of Scotland in General".

Provenance

The Linen Hall Library, Belfast, library label.

Bibliography

Hodson I 174, 179, 182; Chubb CLXI; XIV; VII

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance

Stock number