| Description | Earliest surviving proof copy of George Bellas GREENOUGH's 'Geological Map of England and Wales', of the first state of the engraving process, with the coastal outline, rivers and major cities recorded, [1816]. Annotated by Greenough, with names of rivers - presumably to be added. East half of map only - 'London', 'Norfolk' and 'York' sheets sectioned, and mounted onto linen in two sheets. Each sheet measures c.80.5 x 95.7cm. |
| Administrative History | Thomas Webster drafted the outline map consisting of coast and rivers with name of principal places and districts which was ready to be engraved by the end of 1814. Samuel J Neele agreed to engrave the map, starting in June 1815 with the details gradually being added during the four year engraving process until April 1819.
According to Neele's record of his engraving activities [see: LDGSL/947/5/1/1], 'sand' was added to The Wash, etc, in 1815, and figures were added to the scale in 1816. Also that same year, chemical symbols were added to the sheets. Areas of 'sand' appear on these sheets, and the scale around the edges is only partially numbered - missing from the 'Norfolk' sheet. The sheets contain no chemical symbols, hence a date of 1816.
The first proof, which does not survive, was viewed by Council in January 1816 but the quality was thought too faint to be legible [GSL/CM/1/1, 19 Jan 1816]. Going by Neele's record, these sheets are likely to be the second or third proofs issued. |
| CustodialHistory | Historically a broad date of 1818 was given to all of the draft maps in this series as the 'mountain' topography was not added until 1819. |