This map of England Wales is rarely found and usually black and white. It is by Pieter Meijer and is from a Dutch translation of Benjamin Martin’s ‘The Natural History of England’ 1759-63. Like the Martin, this two volume atlas forms only part of a larger thirty-one volume work. A third volume was issued in 1782 with a series of 18 maps of the world included regional ones of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The title ‘Algemeene Oefenschoole van Konsten en Weetenschappen’ is translated as ‘General Academy of Arts and Sciences’. The open acknowledgement of Emanuel Bowen as originator of the maps might indicate some form of approval from Martin for the work. It does not appear to have been a commercial success judging by its rarity and the longevity of its availability. It was advertised for sale in 1789 by A. Blusse and Sons of Dordrecht. In 1802, it was offered by J. Allart in Amsterdam, L. Herdigh in Leiden, and W. van Bergen in Breda who ‘through the purchase from the stock of the late P. Meyer, have become owners of this excellent and universally esteemed work’.

The engraver of the maps is Leonard Janszoon Schenck (1732-1800) whose name appears on the maps. The titles have been almost directly translated with the addition of a credit to Bowen and date of issue. Some of the toponyms have also been translated. Provenance: Doreen Green 2006; private English collection. Not in Chubb (1927); Hodson (1984-97) 260; Koeman (1967-70) Supplement Meij 2 & Meij 1; Shirley (2004) Mei 1a; Tooley’s Dictionary (1999-2004).