"Geography", Blome, Richard

This interesting illustration of the science of geography centers on a simple double hemisphere world map depicting California as an island. The surrounding oval contains engravings showing how the land is measured and divided; The Earth is divided into Realmes, Realmes into Provinces, Provinces into Regions, Regions into Countreys, Countreys into Territories, Territories into Lands, Lands into Acres, Acres into Rodds, Rodds into Paces, Paces into Feet, Feet into Inches and Inches into Barly-corns. At the bottom is great illustration of a cartographer's studio. At top are the royal coat of arms and a dedication to the Right Honorable George Berkeley. Published between 1686 and 1710.

Richard Blome was one of the most interesting, and most active, publishers of illustrated books in post-Restoration London. There is an excellent biography on MapForum.com.

References: Shirley #479.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression with a few light spots in the image, a faint dampstain that enters engraved image at right, and a few small wormholes at left.