Thompson, George
George Thompson (June 17, 1758 – February 15, 1826) was a British stationer, printer, and map publisher active in London in the late 18th and early 19th century. Thompson was born in London, the son of a butcher. He apprenticed with William Morgan of the Stationers Guild in 1773. Thompson specialized in ephemeral 'cheap prints' relating to current events and produced few maps, all of which were separately issued broadsides. Around 1798 – 1799 he appears to have issued a series of large format broadside maps of the world and continents. All George Thompson maps are extremely rare today. Thompson was succeeded by his son, George Nathaniel Thompson, after his death in 1834. Although Thompson published few maps, the size of his fortune at death, nearly 70,000 GPB suggests that he was a highly successful printer and stationer.
Uniquely British Cheap Print: Earliest printed representation of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Vitoria.
Field Marshal the Marquis of Wellington's Victory of Vittoria.
$5,000.00
Acquire
- Digital Map Information
- Suitable for large format printing
- Full resolution TIFF file
- ICC color profile embedded
- Delivered instantly via download link
The only known surviving example of this large-format woodcut 'cheap print' issued by George Thompson in 1813, celebrating the Duke of Wellington's stunning triumph over French forces at the Battle of Vitoria (June 21, 1813), a decisive battle in the years-long Peninsular War (1808 - 1814). It is likely the earliest printed representation of the battle, being a news-as-it-happened publication. The victory helped to solidify Wellington's stature as the ablest British commander of land forces, earning him the rank of field marshal and later the title of Duke. The 'cheap print' is a uniquely British form of graphic news publishing issued for distribution among the uneducated but engaged populace. (more details)