The plates used in this atlas were first published by Richard Blome as ‘Speed’s Maps Epitomiz’d’ in 1681. A further edition followed in 1685 and a ‘Cosmography and Geography’ in 1693. The whereabouts of the Blome plates after 1693 is unknown. Blome had died in 1705 but it is unlikely that Thomas Taylor acquired them at this date as no issue is known before 1715. The earliest we hear of Taylor in business is 1711. The ‘England Exactly Described’ was first advertised in the ‘Daily Courant’ 24 September 1715. The first versions of the atlas did not contain a map of Scotland but reacting to news of the Jacobite Rebellion earlier in the month he quickly rectified this first advertising the fact by the first week in November.

This edition is dated from an advert placed in the ‘Daily Courant’ 1 March 1717. It bears a re-worded title and four new leaves describing the roads. A general map of Ireland dated 1716 has been added to the work giving a total of 42 maps. In this example the map of Warwickshire bears early outline colour, it does not appear to have been inserted, is of the correct state and one suspects that the county may have been singled out for such treatment. Provenance: Dr. Adrian Almond collection. Hodson 140.