An interesting 17th century triangular distance table / miniature county map of Warwickshire which was engraved by Jacob Van Langeren and published in A Direction for the English Traviller (London: T. Jenner, c.1643).
Now a feature in most modern atlases, the triangular distance table was a 17th century innovation devised by the renowned cartographer, John Norden (1548-1626) who first published them in 1625. Ten years later, Norden’s tables were copied by the Dutch engraver, Jacob Van Langeren, for Matthew Simmon’s ‘Direction for the English Travailler’. To assist the traveller further, a set of ‘thumbnail’ county maps were added to the bottom right of each table — thus making the ‘English Travailler’ the first travel book to contain maps. The maps themselves were based on those which appeared on a set 1590 playing cards by William Bowes.
In 1643, during the English Civil War, the ‘English Travailler’ was re-issued by the London publisher, Thomas Jenner, who was an ardent puritan and vehement supporter of the Parliamentarian cause. Along with his famous ‘Quartermaster Map’ — a portable fold out map of England & Wales — Jenner sought to assist the Parliamentarian army in the field. To make them even more practical, he replaced the ‘thumbnail’ county maps with more detailed ones based on those done by John Speed.
The ‘English Travailler’ proved popular even after the Civil War and was published in several editions (also under the alternative title: A Book of the Names…) by Jenner until c.1673 and then by John Garrett until c.1680.
One frequent visitor to Jenner’s shop was Samuel Pepys, a noted bibliophile who also realised the value of maps especially in his work at the Navy Office.
- This is an original copperplate engraving.
- Printed area is approximately 10.3cms by 10.1cms.
- The map is in very good condition with decent margins; centrefold, as issued. Click on image for a better view.
- The item comes displayed in a ready to frame acid free mount.
- Click on ‘Delivery Policy’ for postage costs.
- Guaranteed to be over 350 years old
