A New and Accurate Plan of the Ancient Borough of Bury Saint Edmunds in the Country of...

Important and very rare plan of Bury St. Edmunds by A. Downing

A large and detailed copper engraved plan of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, drawn and published by Alexander Downing in 1741, engraved by W.H. Toms, engraver in Union Court, and sold by Samuel Matson, Bookseller at Bury. Oriented with north to the right of the page, the plan is dedicated by Downing to 'To the Right Worshipful the Alderman, Recorder, Capital Burgesses, and Common Council of the Borough of Bury St. Edmunds, in the County of Suffolk. This plan is humbly Inscribed by their Worships most humble Servant Alex: Downing'.

A title cartouche appears in the upper left corner, two large vignette illustrations of 'The Cross' and 'Abbey Gate' in the lower corners, a compass rose, coat of arms, a mileage scale and a key from 1 to 55 with street names, another key from A to W with important buildings. At the bottom of the plate the participating persons are mentioned: 'Published by the Proprietor Alexander Downing, April 24th, 1741. & sold by Sam. Watson, Bookseller at Bury, and W.H. Toms, Engraver in Union Court near Hatton Garden, Holborn.'

This is first state of the map, published by A. Downing itself. There was a second state published by J. Rocque in 1761. We only could locate one copy of this first state in the Library of Yale, non in COPAC (British Libraries).

Evidence of two vertical old folds, very good condition. It is quite unusual to find a separate published map in such preservation.