A Plan of the City of Bristol by Benjamin Donne 1786

Title: A PLAN of the CITY OF BRISTOL delineated from actual Survey BY BENJAMIN DONNE (sic).'This PLAN is Inscribed to the Booksellers of BRISTOL and BATH who have encouraged this Publication By their Obliged Serv't B. Donne.'

Publication: 'Published by Donn the 25th October 1773. sold also by Mefsers. Galabin and Baker, Ingram Court, Fenchurch Str. LONDON. of whom may be had by the same Author a Map of the Country 11 Miles round Bristol...
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Date: Fourth Edition 1786

Description: 18th century detailed plan of the City of Bristol and the River Avon. Extensive key and re4ference table.

Condition: Good imprint and generous margins,closed splits to top margin, image unaffected, reinforcing to top centrefold, folding copy as published, age and mount discolouration to margins.

Image size: 310 x 430mm
12.25 x 17 " approx.

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Order No. 2960

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Biography:
Benjamin Donn
In 1759 the Royal Society of Arts, then known as the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, offered an annual award of £100 for the best original 1" to 1 mile county survey. Donn and Isaac Taylor's (Dorset) submitted entries, but Benjamin Donn was the first successful applicant, with a twelve sheet map of Devonshire, engraved by Thomas Jeffereys and published in 1765.

A Devonian, Donn was a well-known mathematician as well as a surveyor and teacher of mathematics in Bideford, before moving to Bristol. Also interested in tidal flows he published a set of figures for the South West of England.
Other Works by this artist or engraver

Thomas Jefferys (1719-1771) was one of the most important engravers of the eighteenth century. His considerable output covered the entire field of printing from maps to satires and portraits. Learning his trade as an apprentice with Emanuel Bowen. He produced several other large scale county maps which proved expensive to produce and may have contributed to his bankruptcy in 1765. Robert Sayer and latterly William Faden joined forces with Jeffreys, giving financial assistance to the business and in Faden's case leading to an eventual takeover after Jeffrey's death in 1771.

18th Century Map of the City of Bristol - Benjamin Donne