Britannia Depicta Or Ogilby Improv'd was the most popular and successful Ogilby derivative atlas, published in response to public demand for a small road atlas that could be easily carried by travelers. The atlas reproduced Ogilby's strip-style road maps and added individual county maps. It was published by Thomas Bowles in a series of editions between 1720 and 1764. The historical notes that accompany each map were compiled by John Owen, a respected lawyer and antiquarian. The maps were engraved by Emanuel Bowen who went on to become one of London's leading engravers and print sellers in the 18th century. The maps are embellished with coats of arms and contain immense detail and topographical information. A compass rose orients each map and useful landmarks include hills, bridges, rivers and streams, windmills, churches, markets, parks and forests, water wells and even gallows.

These copper engraved, Ogilby-style strip road maps include coats-of-arms and descriptive text by John Owen.

A. [The Road from Kings Lyn to Harwich...] Extends from King's Lynn to Thetford, and includes a page of text on "A Description of ye smaller Islands in ye British Ocean."

B. [The Road from Kings Lyn to Norwich Continued to Yarmouth...] Extends from King's Lynn through Billingford and Norwich to Yarmouth.

C. [The Road from Nottingham to Grimsby...] Extends from Nottingham, through Newark and Lincoln, to Grimsby.

D. [The Road from Oxford to Bristol...] Extends from Oxford, through Faringdon to Bourton, and includes a page of text on "A Description of Oxford University."

E. [The Road from Hereford to Leicester...] Extends from Hereford, through Worcester and Coventry, to Leicester.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.BOW-1a.

Condition: B+

Light toning, minor scattered foxing, and a few tiny chips and tears along the edges of the sheets.