1708 Senex Map of Poland: a Likely First State

John Senex (1678 - 1740) was an English engraver and map maker active in London during the first half of the 18th century. Senex was born to upper middle class parents in Shropshire, England. As a young man, he was apprenticed to Robert Clavell, a London bookseller and member of the Stationers' Company, under whom he mastered the arts of engraving and printmaking. Around 1702 Senex completed his apprenticeship and established himself as a printer and bookseller in the Strand. A year later Senex partnered with Jeremiah Seller and Charles Price, the successors to the important mapmaker John Seller, and relocated to Cornhill. This was likely Senex's first introduction to mapmaking though he seems to have taken to it with abandon. In the subsequent years Senex established himself as one of the most prominent cartographers in London, publishing a number of beautiful and important maps that today rank among the finest examples from the Golden Age of British Cartography. In addition to a large corpus of flat maps, Senex also produced a number of important and highly desirable globes. Eventually Senex dissolved his partnership with Seller and Price and relocated to Fleet Street, where he maintained offices until his death in 1740. Senex was succeeded by his widow, Mary Senex, who continued to publish and update his works until about 1755, when the remaining globe and map plates were sold to James Ferguson. More by this mapmaker...

Charles Price (1679? - 1733) was an English instrument-maker, engraver, surveyor, mapmaker and mapseller. In the course of his career collaborated with many of the leading lights of English cartography. Nothing is known of his childhood. He was apprenticed to the mapmaker John Seller in 1694, and witnessed his master's will; he and Jeremiah Seller became free in 1703 and entered into a partnership. He moved on to work with John Senex from 1705-1710, and George Willdey from 1710 to 1713. He also worked with instrument maker Benjamin Scott. He appears to have been prolific. Unfortunately, by 1731 he was in debtors' prison; he died in 1733. Learn More...

John Maxwell (fl 1707-1714) was an English mapseller, globe seller and author. He worked with John Senex from 1709 as late as 1718, although his work with Senex may have practically ended in 1714. Learn More...