1736 Owen and Bowen Map of Flintshire w/ Map: Shrewsbury to Holywell on Verso

This is a scarce 1736 example of John Owen and Emanuel Bowen's map of the County of Flintshire, Wales. The map is printed on both sides. The map on recto features a detailed map of the County of Flintshire with a decorative title cartouche ornamented with leaves, fruit, grapes and dogs. Information about Flintshire is included along the bottom of the map proper. The verso featuring the three road strip maps from Shrewsbury to Caergwrle in Flintshire. Several towns with distances are noted, including Ortney, Didleston Green, Elismere, Oatley Park, & Wrexham, in the Counties of Shropshire & Denbighsire. Several buildings, bridges, topographic features, vegetation and water bodies are noted. This map also features information about Flint and Wrexham along the bottom and left of the map. Issued as page nos. 265 and 266 in Britannia depicta, or, Ogilby improv'd.

Cartographer

Emanuel Bowen (1694 - May 8, 1767) was a Welsh cartographer, map engraver, and publisher active in London during the first half and middle of the 18th century. Born at Talley, Carmarthenshire, he was apprenticed in 1709 to the London engraver and globe-maker Charles Price, beginning a career that combined the compilation of geographical information with copperplate engraving for booksellers and map publishers. His early work included maps for an Atlas of the World issued in 1717, followed by Britannia Depicta; or, Ogilby Improv'd (1720), prepared with John Owen, which brought together reduced road-strip maps, county maps, and historical and heraldic information in a portable volume. In 1729, Bowen published a subscription-funded map of South Wales, substantially improving the region's cartographic representation; the map's geographical information subsequently informed his Welsh county maps. After working at several London addresses, he established workshops in Aldersgate, Smithfield, and Clerkenwell, producing maps extensively for other publishers rather than relying on a prominent retail shop. His international cartography included maps for A Complete System of Geography (1744 - 1747), the 1744-48 edition of Navigantium atque itinerantium bibliotheca, and A Complete Atlas (1752). He became geographer to George II around 1747. Among his apprentices were Thomas Kitchin (1719 - 1784), who married Bowen's daughter Sarah in 1739, and Thomas Jefferys (1719 - 1771), apprenticed in 1735. With Kitchin, Bowen produced the county maps issued between 1749 and 1760 that formed The Large English Atlas; their collaboration continued in The Royal English Atlas around 1763. His maps characteristically combined detailed geographical engraving and ornamental cartouches with extensive historical, economic, and topographical annotations. Despite his substantial output and royal appointment, Bowen died in reduced circumstances in 1767. His son and fellow engraver, Thomas Bowen (d. 1790), continued his cartographic work, including Atlas Anglicanus (1767 - 1768), which was completed and issued after Emanuel's death.   Further Details...

Source

Owen, J. and Bowen, E., Britannia depicta, or, Ogilby improv'd : being a correct coppy of Mr. Ogilby's actual survey of all ye direct & principal cross roads in England & Wales, 1736.    

Condition

Very good. Minor toning with some offsetting. Original platemark visible. Printed on both sides.