Historic Map : Cruchley Map of England, 1850, Vintage Wall Art

This is a lovely example of George Frederick Cruchley's 1850 map of England. It covers both England and Wales from Northumberland to Cornwall and from the St. George's Channel east as far as the Strait of Dover. The Isle of Man is also included.

During this time, both England and Wales were in the midst of the Industrial Revolution, wheremuch of the rural agricultural population was relocating to urban centers. This map is color coded according to regions and provinces and identified several important towns, cities, rivers, mountains and an assortment of other topographical features. Relief is shown by hachures.

Cruchley's General Atlas was unique for its period, employing a vivid color scheme extending even to the oceans, distinctive typography, and various uncommon decorative elements including a peacock feather crown and an imprint medallion, both of which break the printed border.  Though many of the maps in this atlas are copyrighted in 1841, the atlas was first published in 1843 from the Cruchley office at 81 Fleet Street, London, and proving popular went through numerous reissues well into the 1850s.