Buy this book on-line

MOULE, Thomas : The English Counties Delineated; Or, A Topographical Description of England

George Virtue, 26, Ivy Lane Paternoster Row, London, 1839

Quarto, 2 volumes (275 x 220 mm. each), contemporary half calf, marbled paper boards, blind ruled, spine with raised bands, each compartment with ornate gilt panelling and central feature, calf gilt title and volume labels, lower board of first volume loose, marbled endpapers. With engraved frontispiece of Queen Victoria bearing title, further engraved title page with vignette of Greenwich Hospital, typographic title page, pp. xxiv, 484; typographic title, pp. (2), 582, with 56 maps on 59 plates (comprising 2 general on 5 plates, 42 counties, 7 town plans, 3 islands and 2 of London) of which 2 are folding and 2 engravings, some maps trimmed slightly and light foxing as is always the case, otherwise a good example.

FIRST EDITION. Thomas Moule (1784-1851) was a noted historian, mapseller and publisher. His finest work is this, the English Counties Delineated, first published in 1837 following its issue in parts from May 1830 to the spring of 1836. The publisher was George Virtue (1793-1868) who used the same beautiful plates later in his publication of Rev. James Barclay’s Dictionary. The maps are considered the most attractive of all the later English county maps. They are embellished with topographical views, coats of arms and decorative borders. They were engraved by James Bingley (1796-1869), John Crane Dower (1791?-1847) and William Schmollinger (fl.1830-37). Bingley was born in Leicester and was in London by 1820, when he married in Chelsea. He was imprisoned for debt in 1833 at which time he was in partnership with Schmollinger. Dower was born in London and left a son John James Dower who was also an engraver. Schmollinger was also declared bankrupt in 1856. 'One of the earliest atlases to show the beginnings of the railway network that was to cover Great Britain' (Wardington Catalogue).Thomas Moule wrote books on heraldry and antiquities. From 1816-23 he was a bookseller in Duke Street, Grosvenor Square, London. He was then employed in the General Post Office to 'interpret illegible addresses' (BBTI), whilst also working as Chamber-Keeper in the Lord Chamberlain's Department. The last position gave him a residence at St. James's Palace where he died in 1851. After the completion of the parts issue sometime in 1836, the English Counties Delineated appeared as a two-volume book in 1837, with subsequent editions in 1838 and 1839 (as here). The first edition included a frontispiece portrait of William IV, indicating its most likely publication before his death on 20 June 1837. This includes the portrait of the young Queen Victoria. Several pages of descriptive text accompany each county map. A large index ends volume two. British Book Trade Index; Campbell (1985b); Carroll (1996) 95; Chubb (1927) 472; Sotheby's Wardington sale 10 October 2006 lot 308; Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).

Bibliophile Bookbase for antiquarian books, maps and prints.