- 99
Saxton, Christopher
Estimate
165,000 - 185,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
[An Atlas of England and Wales]. [London: Christopher Saxton, 1579, additions to 1636]
Folio (16 ΒΌ x 11 3/8 in.; 413 x 288 mm). Engraved hand-colored frontispiece showing Queen Elizabeth as patroness of Astronomy and Geography attributed to Remy Hogenberg, 35 double-page or folding engraved maps with fine contemporary hand-coloring, printed index of maps bound at end (Skelton's setting D), extra illustrated with 4 maps from John Norden's Speculum Britanniae (Myddlesex, 1593; London, 1593; Westminster, [1593]; Hertfordshire, 1598) pasted on the verso of Saxton's Hertfordshire map, and forty engraved "thumb-nail" maps, the title page, table of distances and two maps of the British Isles from A Direction for the English Traviller (1636) pasted on the versos of other maps throughout, one leaf with engraved royal arms (from Norden) tipped in within handcolored engraved border, double-page engraved border enclosing 83 engraved coats-of-arms tricked in full color facing a manuscript table of cities, bishoprics, markets, castles, rivers, parks, etc. throughout England followed by an engraved version of the same table, printed tables and manuscript notes on endpapers; a few small repaired tears in margin of frontispiece, four maps shaved to the frame at top or outer margin, two small rustholes in maps of Oxfordshire and Glamorgan, lower corners of Hertfordshire skilfully repaired with some facsimile, Yorkshire with repaired tear. Later panelled calf; recased, edges mended. Brown cloth drop box.
Folio (16 ΒΌ x 11 3/8 in.; 413 x 288 mm). Engraved hand-colored frontispiece showing Queen Elizabeth as patroness of Astronomy and Geography attributed to Remy Hogenberg, 35 double-page or folding engraved maps with fine contemporary hand-coloring, printed index of maps bound at end (Skelton's setting D), extra illustrated with 4 maps from John Norden's Speculum Britanniae (Myddlesex, 1593; London, 1593; Westminster, [1593]; Hertfordshire, 1598) pasted on the verso of Saxton's Hertfordshire map, and forty engraved "thumb-nail" maps, the title page, table of distances and two maps of the British Isles from A Direction for the English Traviller (1636) pasted on the versos of other maps throughout, one leaf with engraved royal arms (from Norden) tipped in within handcolored engraved border, double-page engraved border enclosing 83 engraved coats-of-arms tricked in full color facing a manuscript table of cities, bishoprics, markets, castles, rivers, parks, etc. throughout England followed by an engraved version of the same table, printed tables and manuscript notes on endpapers; a few small repaired tears in margin of frontispiece, four maps shaved to the frame at top or outer margin, two small rustholes in maps of Oxfordshire and Glamorgan, lower corners of Hertfordshire skilfully repaired with some facsimile, Yorkshire with repaired tear. Later panelled calf; recased, edges mended. Brown cloth drop box.
Provenance
William Watson (of Lincoln, signature beneath royal arms)
Literature
Evans and Lawrence, pp. 9-43; Skelton 1
Catalogue Note
Fine extra-illustrated copy of a landmark of Elizabethan cartography by "the father of English cartography."
Saxton, a little-known surveyor from West Yorkshire, completed a survey of England and Wales with individual maps appearing in print between 1574 and 1579. His work was sponsored by Thomas Seckford with the likely participation of William Burghley and the Queen herself. The page of arms includes that of Christopher Hatton (no. 66) who is referred to as chancellor, an office he held 1587-1591. Thomas Heneage (no. 69) is noted as vice-chancellor, an office to which he was appointed in 1589, suggesting that this plate was engraved circa 1590.
The engraved portrait of the Queen, one of the finest of that monarch, is in the second state with the more elaborate decoration of her dress removed. Thirteen of the maps in the present copy show the Seckford motto in its pre-1576 form: Pestis patriae pigricies, while the remainder show the later form: Industria naturam ornat. The maps show the watermark of a bunch of grapes.