Greenwood's majestic large-scale plan of London
By GREENWOOD, Christopher , 1845
Sold

Map of London from an actual Survey Comprehending the Various Improvements to 1845. Humbly Dedicated to Her most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria. By the Proprietors E. Ruff & Co., Hind Court, Fleet Street.

British Isles London
  • Author: GREENWOOD, Christopher
  • Publication place: London
  • Publisher: By the Proprietors E. Ruff & Co., Hind Court Fleet Street
  • Publication date: August 31st, 1845.
  • Physical description: Large engraved map on six sheets, dissected and mounted on linen, fine original full wash hand-colour, folding into original green cloth slipcase with mapseller's label.
  • Dimensions: 1290 by 1880mm. (50.75 by 74 inches).
  • Inventory reference: 2574

To scale:

Notes

Christopher and John Greenwood state in the title that the plan was made from an “Actual Survey”, which had taken three years. Plans at the time were often copied from older surveys, or re-issued with minor updating; so conducting a new survey was indeed something to boast about. The plan, which was finely engraved by James and Josiah Neele, is stylistically similar to the Ordnance Survey maps of the time, although it was engraved on a much larger scale of 8 inches to the mile, compared to the OS one inch to the mile. It includes detailed depictions of streets, houses, public buildings, parks, squares, woods, plantations, rivers, hills, windmills; also the marking of the boundaries of the City of London, Westminster, Southwark, Rules of the King’s Bench & Fleet Prison, Clink Liberty, counties and parishes. Below the plan is a list of parishes and a key, which is flanked by views of Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.

The present plan accords with Howgego 309 state (6). The date in imprint is changed to 1845 and the plan is dedicated to Queen Victoria. Additions to the map include the St George’s square in Pimlico, and the Paddington Station. The map bears the imprint of E. Ruff & Co. a company who among other things mounted, varnished and placed on rollers, many of the maps produced by the Greenwoods. It is unknown how they came to acquire Greenwood’s plates, however, it is conceivable that the plates where in part payment for debts owed to Edward Ruff.

Scale: 8 inches to 1 statute mile.

Bibliography

  1. Howgego 309 state (6).
/