Decorative Printed Maps of the 15th to 18th Centuries by Skelton, R.A - 1966

London: Staples Press, 1952. Revised Edition . Cloth. Good/No Jacket. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. 80 pp. with nominal index, plus 84 color and B&W plates. This is a revised edition of "Old Decorative Maps and Charts" by A. L. Humphreys. Burgundy cloth with gilt lettering and decoration on front cover. Spine sl. faded, corners worn. Hinges and binding tight. This new edition is intended to serve both as a specimen book and as an elementary guide to the study of maps printed from wood blocks or copper-plates between the 15th and 18th centuries. Shipment out of the US will require additional postage.

London: Spring Books, 1967. 3rd. Very Good/Very Good. Hardcover. 80 pages of text and 84 black & white, color plates. Some foxing to endpapers. Dust jacket with soiling, chipping. Record # 503642

Staples Press, 1952-01-01. Hardcover. Very Good. 9x6x1. Hardcover and dust jacket. Tears to jacket with loss. Good binding and cover. Shelf wear. Pages unmarked. This is an oversized or heavy book, which requires additional postage for international delivery outside the US.

London: Staples Press Limited. Very Good/No DJ. 1952. First Edition. Hard Cover. 4to Heavy book but no extra postage will be asked for within the UK, (overseas at cost.) Red cloth with gilt titling on spine. Gilt illustrated on upper boards. Slightly bowed boards. Rubbed edges. No ownership marks. vii, 80pp, 84 full page colour & b/w plates clean and tight. .

London: Spring Books. Very Good/Good. 1967. Third Impression. Hard Cover. This is a very heavy book but it will be supplied at the default p & p to addresses within the UK. Revised edition. Dust jacket is in a protective sleeve, closed tears and edge wear. Blue cloth with bright gilt lettering to spine. Slightly rubbed to lower edge. No inscription. 80 pages plus plates clean and tight. This handsomelly illustrated book provides a survey of maps printed from copper plates or wood blocks between the 15th and 18th centuries. The 86 reproductions, 12 in full colour, serves as a specimen book to illustrate the development of map-design and decoration. The introduction describes the techniques used for engraving & printing, the history of the map trade, the development of symbols, lettering, decoration and colouring of maps, some problems in the dating and study of engraved maps, their mortality, and the history of map collecting. .

Spring Books, London, 1967 reprint of 1965 third impression. Cloth, large 4to,. vii, 80 pp, 84 plates (chiefly maps, 12 in colour). This book "provides a survey of maps printed from copper plates or wood-blocks between the 15th and 18th centuries. In these four centuries, from the birth of map-printing to the eve of scientific cartography, the printed map was the chief vehicle of popular geographical ideas. It was also, and still is, a source of visual pleasure. The early map-maker's deficiencies of knowledge and technique encouraged him to exercise his sense of fitness in design and his ingenuity in the decoration of his work. The design of his maps was controlled no less by the tools and processes used in engraving and printing them than by the public for whom they were made and by the commercial channels through which they were circulated. These topics have received little notice in most gencral works on cartography and they are given special attention in this volume. The 86… Read More

Spring Books, London, 1967 reprint of 1965 third impression. Cloth, large 4to,. vii, 80 pp, 84 plates (chiefly maps, 12 in colour). This book "provides a survey of maps printed from copper plates or wood-blocks between the 15th and 18th centuries. In these four centuries, from the birth of map-printing to the eve of scientific cartography, the printed map was the chief vehicle of popular geographical ideas. It was also, and still is, a source of visual pleasure. The early map-maker's deficiencies of knowledge and technique encouraged him to exercise his sense of fitness in design and his ingenuity in the decoration of his work. The design of his maps was controlled no less by the tools and processes used in engraving and printing them than by the public for whom they were made and by the commercial channels through which they were circulated. These topics have received little notice in most gencral works on cartography and they are given special attention in this volume. The 86… Read More

London, Spring Books 1965. Reprint of a revised edition of Old Decorative Maps and Charts by A L Humphries. : Very good blue boards with some signs of fading in places, clean and tight, 11.00 x 7.75 inches approx. , well used dustjacket, has been poorly repaired with tape to the outside at one point this has been removed and the tears are now internally repaired, not price clipped, 80 pages followed by 84 colour and mono plates of maps at rear, contents very good tight and clean, some discoloring to closed page edges. .

Spring Books, London, 1967 reprint of 1965 third impression. Cloth, large 4to,. vii, 80 pp, 84 plates (chiefly maps, 12 in colour). This book "provides a survey of maps printed from copper plates or wood-blocks between the 15th and 18th centuries. In these four centuries, from the birth of map-printing to the eve of scientific cartography, the printed map was the chief vehicle of popular geographical ideas. It was also, and still is, a source of visual pleasure. The early map-maker's deficiencies of knowledge and technique encouraged him to exercise his sense of fitness in design and his ingenuity in the decoration of his work. The design of his maps was controlled no less by the tools and processes used in engraving and printing them than by the public for whom they were made and by the commercial channels through which they were circulated. These topics have received little notice in most gencral works on cartography and they are given special attention in this volume. The 86… Read More

London: Staples Press, 1952. Near Fine condition in a Fair dust jacket (rubbing, chips, tears). Protected by a removable Brodart clear-plastic sleeve. NOT a library discard. NO owner's name or bookplate. Pages are clean, crisp and unmarked. First Edition Thus. Many collectors prefer the large format (9.75" wide by 12.5" tall) of this 1952 first impression over the smaller size of later printings. "First published 1952" is so stated. This is a revised and enlarged edition of OLD DECORATIVE MAPS AND CHARTS by A. L. Humphreys (1926). This 1952 edition adds 22 plates. The text by R. A. Skelton, Superintendent of the British Museum's Map Room, is entirely new, and a major improvement in terms of sophistication, precision and detail. 87 pages of text + 84 map reproductions on coated stock. Twelve maps in beautiful full color. Bound in the original gilt-stamped maroon cloth. From the dust jacket: "DECORATIVE PRINTED MAPS provides a survey of maps printed from… Read More