A beautiful example in very nice condition of the FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. This atlas was first published in 1767 as the ‘Atlas Anglicanus’ in response to Ellis’ popular English Atlas first published in 1765. The ‘Atlas Anglicanus’ like many projects at the time began life by being published in monthly numbers. Each contained three maps, the part numbers being engraved on them. Until recently no example of the parts issue had been located and the only evidence we had for its issue came from a contemporary account of Gough and two located adverts. The presence of the same number on three maps caused some confusion for earlier carto-bibliographers, notably Chubb who surmised that they represented pigeon holes in the printing office! The first part was issued on 1 January 1767 and shortly after production began Emanuel Bowen died on 8 May 1767, his death was reported in the ‘London Magazine’. Only four parts had been issued. The project was continued by his son Thomas although the issues were becoming somewhat irregular towards the end.

Near completion Thomas Kitchin (1718-84) steps in and appears to buy the rights to the atlas, the last part was issued on 29 July 1768 and included a title page indicating Kitchin as sole publisher. Kitchin was originally apprenticed to Emanuel Bowen in 1732 and would marry his master’s daughter, Sarah, in 1739. Quite soon the pupil’s output became prolific including several high quality English county atlases. Bowen was successful too and despite the death of Sarah in 1761 the ties between Bowen and Kitchin would remain close. But whilst Bowen’s wealth declined over the years Kitchin remarried in to a wealthy Baptist family. The maps are reductions of those published in the ‘Royal English Atlas’, themselves reductions of the ‘Large English Atlas’, both great atlases. After acquiring the ‘Atlas Anglicanus’ Kitchin immediately undertook the task of adding his imprint to all of the maps. Examples of the atlas usually contain some maps with his imprint, this example however bears none and is therefore a true first issue. Indeed as the binding order differs from the published atlas it can be deduced that this example is bound from the parts issue with the order specified by the owner. Here the northern counties appear first and towards the end the order appears more random. It is suspected that this was once the property of a northern gentleman. A manuscript index is placed opposite the title page to enable quick access to the desired county. Very few examples survive in this state, in all my years I have only located three examples. One other I have handled twice and is now in a private collection, this example and one in another private collection. Provenance: private English collection; Clive A Burden Ltd. Catalogue I item 51; Dr. Adrian Almond collection. Chubb 232; Hodson no. 254; Shirley BL T.Bow 5a.