An uncommon work, ‘one of relatively few road books of European countries, with the map of each country followed by tables of road distances’ (Shirley). The title to the ‘Gentlemans Pocket Companion’ is dated 1722, however the title page to the second work, usually bound with it, is dated 1723. Evidence for that is that the final leaf of the second work is the table of contents to the first. The second work translates some rather amusing sentences into five different European languages: French, Italian, German, Spanish and Flemish.

Thomas ‘Bridge’ Taylor (fl.1711-26) had a short minor career as a map and printseller at the Golden Lion on Fleet Street, London. He is probably best known for publishing ‘The Principality of Wales’, the first separate county atlas of the country, and for re-issuing the quarto sized Richard Blome atlas ‘England Exactly Described’. He is also known for his architectural work, including that for Colen Campbell in the ‘Vitruvius Britannicus’, 1715-25. His trade card stated he sold French, Italian and Dutch maps and prints, he also traded ‘Indian-picters’. oil and glass paintings and frames. His ‘most important publishing project was a series of views of the seaports of Britain … this was undertaken in partnership with Robert Hulton (fl. 1710-48), whose shop was at the corner of Pall Mall, opposite the Haymarket’ (Clayton). He was one of the first to operate west of the city in the newly expanding developments around St. James’s Square. Scarce, the ESTC only lists 5 examples in the UK. Provenance: with bookplate of R. P. L. Booker pasted inside front cover, Booker was appointed to the faculty at Eton College, Windsor, becoming House Master, a member of the FSA; bookplate of F. Arthur Wadsworth; acquired from his collection in August 1994 by Clive A. Burden Ltd.; private English collection. Bennett (2007) p. 42; ESTC T88304 & T147816; Fordham (1924) p. 20; Shirley (2004) T.Tay 2a.