A New Map of Ireland Civil and Ecclesiastical

Beaufort's rare and spectacular wall map of Ireland, folded on linen with its original slip case. This map was a major step forward in the mapping of Ireland, and served as the geographical model for other maps of Ireland for decades. First published in 1792, this example is the second edition, published in 1797.

Reverend Daniel Augustus Beaufort was a Anglican clergyman who served as rector of Navan, County Meath, for over 50 years (1765-1818). He wrote a civil and ecclesiastical memoir of Ireland in which he laid out the contemporary state of civil and religious affairs. The work was accompanied by this extremely detailed map which Beaufort dedicated, with permission, to King George III.

It is no surprise, given the source of the map, that religious buildings and boundaries are noted with particular prominence. Churches, both existing and ruined, are marked on the map, and rectories, vicarages, curacies, and chapelries are specifically noted. Civil boundaries (provinces, counties, and baronies) are outlined, but so are the diocese boundaries.

It is often suggested that this is the first national map to employ hachuring (fine shading) to show relief. The technique was in use in the 1790s, but was only formalized by the Austrian topographer Johann Georg Lehmann in 1799. The publisher of Beaufort's map, William Faden, frequently employed hachuring on his later maps, suggesting that he considered this experiment a success.

Sold with its original slip case. Original hand-colour. [Folded]