103 R Creighton / Samuel Lewis 1831

Samuel Lewis (fl.1830-48), trading under the name S Lewis & Co., was draughtsman, cartographer and publisher operating from 87, Aldersgate Street, and 13, Finsbury Place South, London. He is best known for his Topographical Dictionaries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland with specially produced maps.

The first English dictionary was published in four volumes (quarto) in 1831 and comprised forty-three maps including one of England and Wales and a plan of London and environs. The maps were all drawn by R Creighton and engraved by either Thomas Starling or J and C Walker. The former’s maps can be differentiated as Starling used upper case letters on his Scale of Miles. When the third edition appeared in 1835 it contained a parliamentary map as well, again drawn by Creighton (see 113) and engraved by J and C Walker (see 102 and 116 for other Devon maps by the Walkers).

Early editions of the topographical dictionary contained the maps usually bound in with the county reference. After 1840 the maps were contained in an atlas published separately to accompany the Dictionary.

Size 235 x 298 mm.                                                                                                                                             Scale of Miles (20 = 59 mm).

DEVONSHIRE. Imprint: ENGRAVED FOR LEWIS’ TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY (CeOS). Signatures: Drawn by R. Creighton. (AeOS) and J. & C. Walker. Sculpt. (EeOS). No Reference to Places of Election or to the Unions.