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JEFFERYS, Thomas : The County of Bedford, Surveyed Anno MDCCLXV

1860 x 1140, in eight sheets cut and dissected into 32 panels mounted on linen, in full early wash colour, lower left corner with replacement cloth, one small split of original cloth repaired, otherwise in good condition.

Thomas Jefferys (1719-71) was arguably the most important English cartographer during the eighteenth century. A publisher, engraver, author and geographer of some note he was appointed Geographer to Frederick Prince of Wales in 1748, and later to King George III. It was during the Seven Years’ War that Jefferys made a name for himself as an authority on North American cartography. His other great contribution was in English County cartography being involved with a number of county atlases. But it was his large scale maps of the counties that extended his finances too far. His map of Devonshire in 1765 won the first ever prize of £100 offered by the Royal Society of Arts. By 1766 he was forced into bankruptcy. To survive Jefferys entered into partnerships, the most important of which was with the London map and printseller Robert Sayer. This large scale map of Bedfordshire was published at that critical period of his life and it appears that he needed the assistance of Andrew Dury to publish it. The original survey was undertaken by John Ainslie (1745-1828) and Thomas Donald (fl.1750-c.97). Ainslie was a noted surveyor, mapmaker, engraver and publisher. According to Tooley’s Dictionary this is his earliest work produced when just 20 years old. He is most famous for his Scottish material. It was also the earliest printed work for the surveyor Donald who was less prolific. Rodger (1972) no. 2; Tooley ‘The Map Collector’ Bd5; Tooley’s (1999-2004).

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