John Wood

[Town Atlas of Scotland]

Edinburgh: Canaan & Swinton, 1828. Edition: First Edition., Binding: Half black recent morocco, contemporary marbled paper boards, spine and corners ruled in gilt with floral motif, new endpapers., Notes: John Wood (1809-1841) surveyor and elected permanent director of the Lands Surveyors Society, was responsible for the first systematic survey of the towns of Scotland. The publication of this atlas, following ten years of toil, was a conspicuous milestone in the history of urban cartography for it contained the first systematic delineations of many Scottish towns. Plans were accompanied by descriptive and historical accounts of their towns. Curiously however the atlas omitted some towns which Wood had already surveyed and for which he had published individual plans. Also, not all the delineations are from Wood's own surveys. Individual plans could be purchased in local towns and from the Edinburgh bookseller Thomas Brown.
The 48 town plans were accompanied by a ‘Descriptive Account of the Principal Towns’ (see ”Wood’s town atlas” in “British Museum Quarterly”, vol. 27, 1963, pp. 59-60), which published in 8vo., format and not present here.
, Size: Folio (700 x 535 mm)., Illustration: 48 double-page, engraved or lithographed town plans by T. Clerk and others, dated between 1818 and 1828 (several with watermark), featuring decorative titles, inset lists of references, plans of environs and vignettes, scales, sailing ships and compass roses, some hand-coloured in outline, lacking the plan of Annan (as often), and Galashiels, but with a plan of Inverary not present in the British Library copy, all numbered in pencil.
This scarce example collates as follows: Aberdeen [n.d.]; Arbroath 1822; Ayr [n.d.]; Banff 1825; Berwick 1822; Brechin 1822; Cupar 1820; Crieff 1822; Dalkeith 1822; Dumbarton 1818; Dundee 1821 (lithographed 1827); Dumfries and Maxwelltown 1819; Dunfermline 1823; Dingwall 1821; Dunkeld 1823; Edinburgh 1820; Elgin 1822; Forfar 1822; Forres 1823; Glasgow 1822; Greenock 1825; Haddington and Nungate 1819; Hamilton 1819; Hawick 1824; Inverness 1821; Inverary 1825 (lithographed); Irvine 1819; Jedburgh 1823; Kelso 1823; Kilmarnock 1819; Kirkcaldy 1824; Kinross 1823; Lanark 1825; Leith 1826; Linlithgow 1820; Montrose 1822; Nairn 1821; Paisley (lithographed 1828); Peebles 1823; Perth 1823; Portobello 1824; Rothesay 1825; Stirling 1820 (2 sheets); Selkirk 1823; St. Andrews 1820; Stonehaven 1823; and Stornaway 1821., Provenance: From the library of William Patrick Adam (1823–1881), the elder son of Admiral Sir Charles Adam of Blair Adam, ‘whip’ of the liberal party in the House of Commons, for some years, and afterwards governor of Madras., References: Fordham, MCS 22, p. 16., Category: Book Atlas & Cartography; Book Europe United Kingdom;. A near fine example, plates are clean & crisp, a few plans just shaved to rule border. Bookplate of Blair Adam Library/ William Patrick Adam to front paste down. Item #B6040

Edition: First Edition., Binding: Half black recent morocco, contemporary marbled paper boards, spine and corners ruled in gilt with floral motif, new endpapers., Notes: John Wood (1809-1841) surveyor and elected permanent director of the Lands Surveyors Society, was responsible for the first systematic survey of the towns of Scotland. The publication of this atlas, following ten years of toil, was a conspicuous milestone in the history of urban cartography for it contained the first systematic delineations of many Scottish towns. Plans were accompanied by descriptive and historical accounts of their towns. Curiously however the atlas omitted some towns which Wood had already surveyed and for which he had published individual plans. Also, not all the delineations are from Wood's own surveys. Individual plans could be purchased in local towns and from the Edinburgh bookseller Thomas Brown.
The 48 town plans were accompanied by a ‘Descriptive Account of the Principal Towns’ (see ”Wood’s town atlas” in “British Museum Quarterly”, vol. 27, 1963, pp. 59-60), which published in 8vo., format and not present here.
, Size: Folio (700 x 535 mm)., Illustration: 48 double-page, engraved or lithographed town plans by T. Clerk and others, dated between 1818 and 1828 (several with watermark), featuring decorative titles, inset lists of references, plans of environs and vignettes, scales, sailing ships and compass roses, some hand-coloured in outline, lacking the plan of Annan (as often), and Galashiels, but with a plan of Inverary not present in the British Library copy, all numbered in pencil.
This scarce example collates as follows: Aberdeen [n.d.]; Arbroath 1822; Ayr [n.d.]; Banff 1825; Berwick 1822; Brechin 1822; Cupar 1820; Crieff 1822; Dalkeith 1822; Dumbarton 1818; Dundee 1821 (lithographed 1827); Dumfries and Maxwelltown 1819; Dunfermline 1823; Dingwall 1821; Dunkeld 1823; Edinburgh 1820; Elgin 1822; Forfar 1822; Forres 1823; Glasgow 1822; Greenock 1825; Haddington and Nungate 1819; Hamilton 1819; Hawick 1824; Inverness 1821; Inverary 1825 (lithographed); Irvine 1819; Jedburgh 1823; Kelso 1823; Kilmarnock 1819; Kirkcaldy 1824; Kinross 1823; Lanark 1825; Leith 1826; Linlithgow 1820; Montrose 1822; Nairn 1821; Paisley (lithographed 1828); Peebles 1823; Perth 1823; Portobello 1824; Rothesay 1825; Stirling 1820 (2 sheets); Selkirk 1823; St. Andrews 1820; Stonehaven 1823; and Stornaway 1821., Provenance: From the library of William Patrick Adam (1823–1881), the elder son of Admiral Sir Charles Adam of Blair Adam, ‘whip’ of the liberal party in the House of Commons, for some years, and afterwards governor of Madras., References: Fordham, MCS 22, p. 16., Category: Book Atlas & Cartography; Book Europe United Kingdom;.

Price: $13,000.00