- Title: OARSMAN'S AND ANGLER'S MAP OF THE RIVER THAMES FROM ITS SOURCE TO LONDON BRIDGE
- Author: Edward Stanford
- Date: 1906
- Condition: See description
- Inches: 6 1/4 x 104 3/4 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 15.87 x 266.06 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308584
This map published by Edward Stanford in 1906 is an impressive and detailed fold-out strip map, presented in its original green cloth covers, dissected and mounted on linen for durability and flexibility, a hallmark of quality Edwardian cartographic production.
This map meticulously charts the entire navigable course of the River Thames, beginning at its source and extending downstream to London Bridge. Designed specifically for oarsmen and anglers, it provides not only the hydrographic layout of the river but also topographical details of the adjacent countryside, the positioning of locks, bridges, towpaths, and various landing places. Hand-coloring highlights key navigational and recreational features, enriching its practical and visual utility.
The vertical, panoramic format reflects the river’s meandering progress, with notable bends, islands, and waterside villages illustrated along the route. Marginal notes offer information on distances, local amenities, inns, and angling regulations, catering to the needs of both sporting and leisure travelers during the Edwardian era.
Condition
The map is preserved in exemplary condition, bound in the original green cloth covers and presented in dissected form, laid to linen for durability and ease of handling. Due to the considerable vertical dimension of the sheet, the accompanying digital scan does not fully encompass the map’s entire extent; supplementary detailed images can be provided upon request.
Background on Creator
Edward Stanford (1827–1904) was a prominent British mapmaker, publisher, and entrepreneur who founded Stanfords, London’s renowned map and travel bookshop, in 1853. Born in Holborn, London, and educated at the City of London School, Stanford began his career as an apprentice to a printer and stationer before working under Trelawney Saunders, a significant figure in the map trade. In 1852, Stanford briefly partnered with Saunders, but soon after founded his own enterprise, focusing exclusively on maps and cartographic publishing at a time when demand for accurate maps was high due to British imperial expansion.
Stanfords quickly became a market leader, thanks in part to the creation of highly accurate maps such as the famed “Library Map of London” published in 1862, which solidified Stanford’s reputation among explorers, geographers, and the public. The business also became sole London agents for the Ordnance Survey, the Admiralty, and several major national and colonial mapping projects, contributing to the firm’s commercial and scientific success. Edward Stanford further expanded the company by acquiring the established atlas works of John Arrowsmith and the Staunton & Son stationery firm. He was recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society for his contributions to the field.
After his retirement in the 1880s, Stanford’s son continued to run the business, and the company persisted through world wars and changes in the mapping industry, maintaining a strong reputation and cultural presence even in the 21st century.