Robert Morden

Robert Morden (c. 1650 – 1703) was an English bookseller, publisher, and mapmaker, globemaker and engraver. He was among the first successful commercial map makers.

Morden's European Map from Geography Rectified: or a Description of the World, printed in 1700
Morden and Philip Lea's 1695 map of Tartary, dedicated to the 'Great Czar of Moscovie'

Between about 1675 and his death in 1703, he was based under the sign of the Atlas at premises in Cornhill and New Cheapside, London. His cartographical output was large and varied. His best-known maps are those of South Wales, North Wales and the English Counties first published in a new edition of Camden's "Britannia" in 1695, and subsequently reissued in 1722, 1753 and 1772. These maps were based on new information from gentlemen of each county, and were newly engraved. Each had a decorated cartouche, and showed numerous place names.[1] Morden also produced in 1701 a series of smaller county maps often known as Miniature Mordens.

In 1695 he published a map of Scotland. It is in parts (e.g. Skye and the Western Isles) essentially a copy of the 1654 map done by Robert Gordon of Straloch, published by Joan Blaeu; other parts show evidence of more accurate cartography.

His (fourth edition) of Geography Rectified: or a Description of the World from 1700 dedicated to a Thomas Goddard, is a comprehensive work from many aspects. It has more than 700 pages, including a long pedagogic preface, no fewer than 78 maps from Europe including the British Isles, Asia, Africa, America and a two circular maps of the world, representing planet Earth seen from exactly opposite sides – the known world as of its time. (Australia and Antarctica were not yet known in Europe by then.) It further contains explanations of many general geographical concepts such as Latitude and Longitude and more. It also contains several comparisons of commodities, customs, history, governments, coins and weights (etc) "with those in London". Its index is extensive. A copy has been kept at the British Museum for more than a century.[2]

He published a new map of the Tamil homeland, Coylot Wanees Country, in 17th-century Ceylon.

He is also known for several very rare early maps of the British colonies in North America, which are now among the earliest and most sought-after maps for collectors of old American maps. He also produced a series of miniature maps of the world, which appeared in both playing-card format and in a series of atlases, including his Atlas Terrestris and Geography Anatomiz'd, beginning in 1687.[3]

Morden was a member of the guild The Worshipful Company of Weavers. He was an apprentice of Joseph Moxon, hydrographer to Charles II. Apprentices who trained under Morden include Mary Ward in 1674, Philip Lea in 1675 and Margaret Wearg in 1675.[4]

References
  1. Robert Morden - Mapseller and Cartographer
  2. Sorry for this long link, all statements are taken from the book's first pages - to numbered page no. 16
  3. Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.
  4. Worms, Laurence. (2011). British map engravers : a dictionary of engravers, lithographers and their principal employers to 1850. Baynton-Williams, Ashley. London: Rare Book Society. ISBN 978-0-9569422-0-3. OCLC 726597747.
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