Thomas Moule (1784 – 1851) was a writer, bookseller, publisher, topographer and a scholar in heraldry. His varied career led him in 1830 to produce a series of English county map based on his own travel. He wrote that he has “with expensive diligence personally visited every county in England, excepting only Devonshire and Cornwall.” His maps were delicately engraved on steel in a highly decorative style, featured such embellishments as armorial bearings, figures, fancy borders and vignettes of local interest. This amount of ornamentation in mapmaking was unusual for the period as most mapmaker’s were instead creating scientifically accurate, austere works. His series of county maps were originally published in separate sections for each county (1830-32), then subsequently published in a two-volume work: The English Counties Delineated…, (1836). Beginning in 1841, the maps appeared in Barclays Complete and Universal English Dictionary.

This lot of decorative steel engraved maps provides detailed information of their respective counties, cities, towns, roads, canals and parks.

Berkshire , circa 1850. Bordered by vignette views of Virginia Water, Windsor Castle, Town Hall Abingdon, and a View of Windsor at each corner, along with knights bearing flags and two maidens pouring water from a vessel. (A+)
Hampshire With vignette of Southampton, the crest of the Duke of Wellington and various coat of arms all surrounded by a simple braided border with decorative elements at each corner. (A)
Isle of Wight , circa 1850. With vignette of Carisbrooke Castle and coats of arms and a highly ornate border. (A+)
Sussex . With vignette views of Chichester Cathedral, Arundal Castle, and Chain Pier, Brighton, coats of arms and a merman overlooking the title cartouche. Fancy border of flowers, vines and ocean elements. (A+)

References:

Condition:

See individual descriptions.