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Mr. Philip D. Burden
P.O. Box 863,
Chalfont St. Giles, Bucks HP6 9HD,
UNITED KINGDOM
Tel: +44 (0) 1494 76 33 13
Email: enquiries@caburden.com
Benjamin Martin (1705-82) was baptised in Surrey and married in Chichester in 1729. There he became a schoolmaster for a short while before touring the country giving lectures. A self-educated person he spent his life following several enlightenment style subjects of interest and encouraged others through education and publishing. His school background also allied with his desire to encourage learning amongst the masses, his publications were all priced affordably. He also took over the globe-making business of James Ferguson and made optical and mathematical instruments.
Reflecting his broad interests in natural philosophy he announced in November 1754 his plan for a ‘General Magazine’. The publisher was to be William Owen who was very experienced at part works. It was launched on 1 February 1755 as ‘The General Magazine of Arts and Sciences’ and was issued in parts until 1764. Most of the accompanying text was written by Martin himself. Part of the work describes the counties of England and Wales and illustrates them with maps engraved by Emanuel Bowen.
This is a rare two-volume topographical work on the counties of England and Wales utilising the text and plates from part of the ‘General Magazine’. The counties are described in ‘Camden’ order beginning in the south west. The list of counties on the title page of volume II omits in error, those of Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland. This example includes the folding plan of London often missing. It is extra illustrated with some early plates dating from the early 1800s. Martin was declared bankrupt 7 January 1782 and died following a suicide attempt on 9 February. Provenance: bookplate of J. Twemlow Esq. pasted inside front cover of both volumes; private English collection. Chubb (1927) 215; Hodson (1984-97) no. 230; Shirley (2004) T.Mart 1a.
Reflecting his broad interests in natural philosophy he announced in November 1754 his plan for a ‘General Magazine’. The publisher was to be William Owen who was very experienced at part works. It was launched on 1 February 1755 as ‘The General Magazine of Arts and Sciences’ and was issued in parts until 1764. Most of the accompanying text was written by Martin himself. Part of the work describes the counties of England and Wales and illustrates them with maps engraved by Emanuel Bowen.
This is a rare two-volume topographical work on the counties of England and Wales utilising the text and plates from part of the ‘General Magazine’. The counties are described in ‘Camden’ order beginning in the south west. The list of counties on the title page of volume II omits in error, those of Huntingdonshire, Leicestershire and Rutland. This example includes the folding plan of London often missing. It is extra illustrated with some early plates dating from the early 1800s. Martin was declared bankrupt 7 January 1782 and died following a suicide attempt on 9 February. Provenance: bookplate of J. Twemlow Esq. pasted inside front cover of both volumes; private English collection. Chubb (1927) 215; Hodson (1984-97) no. 230; Shirley (2004) T.Mart 1a.
MARTIN, Benjamin
The Natural History of England; or, a Description of each particular County, In regard to the curious Productions of Nature and Art
William Owen, Temple Bar, and by the Author, at his House in Fleet-Street, London, 1759-63
Quarto, two volumes (210 x 130 mm. each), full contemporary calf, ornate blind panels with gilt border, rebacked with raised bands, double gilt ruled compartments, red calf gilt title labels and gilt volume numbers, light wear. Volume I pp. (iv), 410, (8) with 14 county maps, 2 town plans of Bath and Hastings, 1 folding map of the environs of London (not called for); volume II pp. (2), 392, (10) and 27 further maps. Extra illustrated, light water stain to frontispiece first volume, otherwise in good condition.
Stock number: 10168
£ 1,950