- Title: A Map of the Six Counties of North Wales, Divided into their respective Hundreds
- Author: Emanuel Bowen
- Date: 1777
- Condition: Very good - Hinging from previous mounting on left and right margin
- Inches: 20 x 15 5/8 [Image]
- Centimeters: 50.80 x 39.68 [Image]
- Product ID: 308431
This exquisite map shows the six counties of North Wales: Anglesey, Caernarfonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Merionethshire, and Montgomeryshire. Including details like towns, roads, and geographical features. It offers a glimpse into the geographical landscape of North Wales in the late 18th century and is a valuable historical document. It is also known for its detailed depictions of towns and counties, including their history, people, and industries.
Background on Creator
Emanuel Bowen (1694–1767) was a distinguished Welsh map engraver and cartographer, celebrated for his detailed, accurate, and visually striking maps of the 18th century. Born in Talley, Carmarthenshire, Bowen apprenticed with Charles Price, a renowned globe and instrument maker, and began his career in London around 1714. He achieved the rare distinction of being appointed Royal Mapmaker to both King George II of Great Britain and Louis XV of France, a testament to his international reputation and skill.
Bowen’s output was prolific, encompassing some of the largest and most comprehensive maps and atlases of his era. His works include "Britannia Depicta," "A Complete System of Geography," and the "Complete Atlas," all noted for their precision and the inclusion of extensive explanatory notes and decorative rococo cartouches. He collaborated with and influenced many leading cartographers, such as Herman Moll and John Owen, and trained several apprentices who later became prominent figures in British cartography, including Thomas Kitchin and Thomas Jefferys.
Despite his royal appointments and professional acclaim, Bowen’s later years were marked by financial hardship, and he died in poverty. His son, Thomas Bowen, continued the family’s cartographic legacy, though he too struggled with financial difficulties. Emanuel Bowen’s maps remain highly prized for their historical significance, artistry, and the meticulous detail with which they capture the geography of their time.