This work follows on the Cary tradition of a large-scale map of England and Wales dissected and published in atlas form. John Cary would first publish one as a wall map in 1792 followed 2 years later by the ‘New Map of England and Wales, with part of Scotland’ in atlas form with 81 sheets in 1794. It was replaced by newly engraved plates for a ‘second edition’ 1816. This was published and corrected through to 1834. The origin of this map goes back to 1819 with an extensive advert in ‘Cary’s New Itinerary’ of 1819 which stated, ‘Part the First, containing the whole of Cornwall & part of Devonshire, will be published early in the ensuing autumn’. The advert in the 1821 edition stated ‘Parts I & II are now published …’. By 1828 ten parts had been published. The intention was to issue the map in fourteen parts priced at £1 1s. each, in 63 sheets. On completion it consisted of 65 sheets.

As it was issued the dates varied accordingly but when the whole was published here in 1832 the imprints were brought up to date. As is often the case, the whole would not make up a rectangular map. Those portions which would have covered empty sea have been omitted.’ It is very fully and clearly engraved, giving great detail’ (Fordham). Provenance: Lawrences 3 August 2016 lot 2070; private English collection. Fordham (1925) pp. 120-1; Smith (1988); Worms & Baynton-Williams (2011).