If you thought the animosity between North London and South London was a recent concept, then have a look at this map of London from 1787 which barely even notices that South London exists!

OK, actually a map of Middlesex – as what we call “South London” was at the time part of Surrey and Kent and not part of London at all. Then the Local Government Act came along in 1888 and merged parts of each County to create the newly formed County of London.

The map below is by John Cary and taken from his New and Correct English Atlas originally printed in 1787. This map was itself based on the slightly earlier Dury & Andrews map of 1766, although several minor changes were made to the plate.

It was re-engraved in 1793 and published in later editions of the atlas until 1843 – the 1840 and 1843 versions showing the first railway lines. With the imprint information removed, extra railways added, etc, lithographic transfer prints from the plate were issued in Cruchley’s County Atlas of England and Wales between 1863 and 1876.

Sadly, I am not currently able to say which reprint my version is – although the lack of railway lines puts it firmly in a pre-1840 edition.

Click here for medium, large or  very large versions.

This event is being held at Southend on Sea – but I thought it would interest people in London.

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An exhibition by Maxwell Roberts

Since revolutionising map design in 1933, Henry Beck’s iconic London Underground diagram has set the standard for the mapping of transport network worldwide.

The exhibition explores the success of the Beck map and the rules that it adopted, and asks whether the increasingly complex networks of today demand fresh approaches.

Roberts presents a collection of his own work: maps that are easier to use; maps that teach us about good design; maps that challenge our preconceptions; and maps that are purely decorative.

Runs: Fri 25th Feb to Mon 8th March.

Mon-Fri: 9am-5pm
Sat: 9am-4:30pm

The artist will be “in residence” on 26 & 27 Feb and 6th March.

Admission: Free

Address: Campus Gallery, South Essex College of Further & Higher Education, Luker Road, Southend on Sea, Essex.

Thanks to London Reconnections for letting me know about this.

An early map

Inspired by the Art Nouveau movement?

A slightly redesigned version of the modern map (note the changes to the Bakerloo and Victoria lines).

Maps from other metro networks will also be on display.

I heard about this earlier in the year, but the formal announcement was made yesterday – there will be another display of maps at the British Library this summer. As a total antique maps geek, with rather too many automated alerts on eBay for antique maps I want to buy if they are affordable, this is quite exciting.

They ran a display of maps a couple of years ago which kept me enthralled for hours, so I feel an afternoon (at least) will vanish again in a few months time. Especially, as three-quarters of the maps are being shown for the first time.

According to the blurb from the Library, the “new exhibition will showcase over 80 of the most impressive wall-maps ever created, dating from 200AD to the present day, most of which have never been seen before.”

Woo!

As in increasingly necessary – there will be a tie-in with the BBC for a TV series and an accompanying book.

The exhibition opens on the 30th April 2010, and will be free of charge to visit.

Highlights include:

• Fra Mauro World Map c.1450 by William Frazer, 1804 – a hand-drawn copy of the first great modern world map, made for the British East India Company as self-perceived heirs of the Portuguese empire in the Asia

Photo courtesy of The British Library

• Confiance – ses Amputations se Poursuivent, 1944 – a German propaganda poster portraying Churchill as an octopus, drawing on earlier comic maps
• Chinese Terrestrial Globe by Nicola Longobardi / Bartolomeo Dias, 1623 – the earliest Chinese terrestrial Globe, made by Jesuit missionaries for the Chinese Emperor
• A Chart of the Mediterranean Sea by Diogo Homem, 1570 – a luxury map with gold leaf possibly produced for royalty, made after Homem fled from exile in Morocco for his involvement in a murder in Portugal
• Americae, sive quartae orbis partis, nova et exactissima by Diego Gutierrez / Hieronymus Cock, 1562 – a map to flatter King Philip II of Spain and celebrate the Spanish domination of the New World
• World Map by Pierre Desceliers, 1550 – a compendious world map made for the King of France, celebrating the discoveries of Jacques Cartier in Canada, and showing the myths, animals and natural history in their correct place in the world.
• The Klencke Atlas, 1660 – the largest book in the world, and intended to be a summary of the world’s knowledge, produced for the exclusive appreciation of Charles II of England on his restoration to the throne, now on show for the first time to the general public

Photo courtesy of The Guardian.

Being quite a fan of old maps I was brought to a sudden halt when out yesterday evening as I passed an antique store which had a couple of very interesting old maps in their window display.

Popping onto Google Street View this morning to check their name again – it is Altea Gallery – and see if they have a website, it seems that the maps have been in their windows display for some time, as Google showed the same thing as I saw last night.

Their website is equally good – and their highlights page is map-porn for enthusiasts.

London, c.1673

It is probably a tiny bit naughty, but one often overlooked free event is to go to the viewing days at auction houses and have a look at the items being sold.

A really good one is coming up shortly at Christie’s on the Old Brompton Road – of Travel, Science and Natural History, a collection of old scientific instruments, books and drawings.

I tend to treat the viewings as a rare chance to see a museum display of private items put on display for just a few days.

This particular auction also includes a range of globes, which have facinated me ever since I was a kid.

You can see the full catalogue on the Christie’s website – mouse over the image for more details – and the valuation estimate (and weep).

The public viewing times are:

• Sat, April 4th – 10am – 4pm
• Sun, April 5th – 10am – 4pm
• Mon, April 6th – 9am – 7:30pm
• Tues, April 7th – 9am – 5pm

While open to the public, obviously, these are viewings aimed at potential buyers so I tend to bear that in mind when people want me to move out of the way.

Another upcoming event (which is being proactively promoted to the public) is a display of luxury motorcars, being auctioned by Bonhams at the RAF Museum in North London. You can spend time visiting the museum, and express a wistful longing sigh at the cars on display at the same time.