RICHARD NICHOLSON of CHESTER
A WORLD OF ANTIQUE MAPS AND PRINTS
THE CARTOGRAPHER
MATTHEW SIMMONS
died in 1654
Matthew Simmons was a bookseller working at the 'Golden Lion in Duck Lane', London. To map collectors he is best known for his work A Direction for the English Traveller published in 1635 and again 1636. It contained 37 thumbnail size county maps engraved by Jacob van Lantern set within the bottom right hand corner of the page. These maps are copied from the playing cards published by William Bowes in 1580. The rest of the page shows a distance table which appears to have been copied from John Norden's invention in England: an intended guide for English Travellers published in 1625. See also Thomas Jenner
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Essex by Matthew Simmons, 1636
References:
- Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers Revised Edition Q - Z
- Antique Maps of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly by R. C. E. Quixley, Expanded by J. M. E. Quixley
- The Printed Maps in the Atlases f Great Britain and Ireland. A Bibliography, 1579 - 1870 by Thomas Chubb
- Miniature Antique Maps by Geoffrey King, 1996
More Information to Come
An Excellent Book for the County Map Collector
If you can find a copy
When I started collecting and selling maps back in the 1960's there were very few reference books on antique maps. The first book I remember buying was Maps and Mapmakers by R. V. Tooley. Full of wonderful information but over the years there were periods when it was out of print. The Antique Collectors Club used to produce a large range of books on all kinds of antiques and in 1983 - BRITISH COUNTY MAPS by YASHA BERISINER was published. To the best of my knowledge there has not been another book like it published. A most useful and informative work and essential for the avid county map collector. I think there was just the one edition. If you can get hold of a copy at a reasonable price my advice would be - Buy it. There is a link below that will search Amazon for copies on sale.
My well used copy pictured on the right still has its distinctive red cover illustrating Cambridgeshire by John Speed.
AN ANTIQUE MAP OR PRINT MAKES THE PERFECT GIFT
RICHARD NICHOLSON of CHESTER
Stoneydale
Pepper Street
Christleton
Chester
CH3 7AG
Telephone
01244 336004
International
44 1244 336004
email: richard@antiquemapscom
I have been buying and selling antique maps since the early 1960's during which time I had a gallery in Watergate Street, Chester for 30 years. I am now able to offer through my websites a personal service to map and print collectors.