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KITCHIN, Thomas - JEFFERYS, Thomas : The Small English Atlas, being A New and Accurate Sett of Maps of All the Counties in England and Wales

Small quarto (160 x 115 mm.), full contemporary calf, gilt embossed panels, with gilt bands to spine along with red calf gilt title label. Engraved throughout, pictorial title, one leaf containing preface and index, 50 engraved maps, ALL IN EARLY OUTLINE COLOUR with yellow wash borders, Rutland with tear in the map repaired, otherwise a good example.

This small and attractive atlas was first published November 1748 in thirteen weekly parts by a consortium of nine publishers. No copy of this version survives and it seems likely that Jefferys and Kitchin took over the project at an early date. At some point before the publication of the second edition in 1751 alterations were made to some of the plates. During the issue of this 1751 edition plate numbers were added therefore the states of the maps can vary. This example of the 1751 edition bears 4 maps still in their first state, 26 in their second state and 20 in the third state. The atlas proved popular, running to 6 editions, with various changes and additions, the last being in 1787. Provenance: Manuscript ownership inscription of ‘George Evelyn March 15 1756’; Powderham Castle, Library of the Earl of Devon. Chubb (1927) no. 193; Hodson (1984-97) no. 210; refer Shirley (2004) T.Kit 2a (not in BL).

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KITCHIN, Thomas - JEFFERYS, Thomas : The Small English Atlas, being A New and Accurate Sett of Maps of All the Counties in England and Wales

Small quarto (155 x 110 mm.), recent quarter calf, marbled paper boards, ornate blind ruling, spine with raised bands, blind ruled compartments with gilt date and title. Engraved throughout, pictorial title, one leaf containing preface and index, 50 engraved maps, Middlesex with light wash colour, the Isles of Scilly with centrefold split, otherwise a good example.

This small and attractive atlas was first published November 1748 in thirteen weekly parts by a consortium of nine publishers. No copy of this version survives and it seems likely that Thomas Jefferys and Thomas Kitchin took over the project at an early date. A first edition of the atlas was published in 1749. At some point before the publication of the second edition in 1751 alterations were made to some of the plates. During the issue of this 1751 edition plate numbers were added therefore the states of the maps can vary. This example of the edition bears 8 maps still unnumbered. Although dated 1751 on the title page the earliest known advertisement for the work appeared in the 'London Daily Advertiser' on 16 May 1752. It was offered for 5s. half-bound or 7s. 6d. bound and coloured. It could be bought at Thomas Jeffery’s shop as well as that of John Boydell in Cheapside and William Herbert at the Golden Globe on London Bridge. The title page itself also indicated that it was for sale in Dublin courtesy of George Faulkner and in Paris with George Louis Le Rouge. Jeffery’s would develop strong connections in Paris. Thomas Kitchin is not identified as a vendor, as at this point in his career he did not have any retail premises. The atlas proved popular, running to 6 editions, with various changes and additions. Provenance: acquired from the Brian Kentish catalogue of 2012, lot 31, for a private English collection. Chubb (1927) 193; Hodson (1984-97) 210; Pedley (1986) pp. 20-23; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

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