George Bellas Greenough | A Geological Map of England and Wales, Geological Society, 1819

George Bellas Greenough

A Geological Map of England and Wales. London: Geological Society, 1819 [1820]

Engraved map (total size 192 x 166cm.) 12 sheets, mounted in pairs on six sheets of linen (each 65 x 88cm), contemporary hand colouring, 'Dogger Bank' manuscript annotation, printed label affixed to back of each sheet with withdrawn stamp from Nottinghamshire County Library, title, date, sheet number and scale, somewhat dampstained and offset, slight wear to edges of some sheets

This important and rare first edition exhibits contemporary hand-colouring. George Greenough, the first chairman and later president of the Geological Society of London, published this comprehensive study across conjoining sheets following a major survey of local rocks and strata in England and Wales, begun in 1809. Although a first draft was presented in 1812, it continued to be improved until 1819, containing greater geological and cartographical detail than William Smith's 1815 version.