The Cholmondely Collection of Rare Maps,
McMaster University Library
The following information about the Cholmondely Collection
of Rare Maps is taken from an article on "The McMaster University
Rare Maps Collection", written by Dorothy McLennan and Kate Donkin, McMaster
University Library Research News volume 1 #4, April 1970.
"The library recently came into possession of a very interesting collection
of about 400 maps, predominantly eighteenth century, which were aquired
by William Ready in England, when the estate of Lord Cholmondely was being
sold.
...The subject matter of the Cholmondely maps is quite varied, although
mainly restricted to the "Old World".
The majority are maps of Britain and of the states which now form Germany
and Austria. There are also a number of maps of France, the Iberian peninsula,
the Low Countries, and other parts of Europe, with a few of Russia and
the Crimea.
There are three maps of the world, and a few parts of the East, such
as India (1786, 1793), Jerusalem (19th century), and Egypt (1801-2).
The maps of England are especially well represented, with a good selection
of almost all the county maps surveyed and published in the 1760's as
well as detailed town plans of London (1766, 1799, 1804 etc.) and Bath
(1793).
A large number of the European maps seem to have been made or purchased
primarily to serve the needs of the military. Many are plans of the defences
of cities throughout Europe, such as Metz, Luxemburg, Nancy; and maps
such as Plan de la bataille de Hochkirche (1759) and Reconnaissance
militaire du Hundsruck (1797-8). Several are drawn by hand, and seem
to belong to the first decade or so of the 18th century. These ones are
especially detailed, of course, and mark all the fortifications, troops,
camps, etc. The language of these maps is French.
One unusual map is a child's game, to be played with dice and counters,
the object being to make a tour of England and Wales, combining the learning
of useful geographical facts with the fun of a game. It was published
in London in 1780, and is called Bowle's British geographical amusement.
... the Cholmondely maps tend to fall into two or three easily recognised
groups -- the maps of Britain; the military maps of Europe; and a few
maps obviously added to the collection later during the 19th century...
...it may be of interest to try to give some information about the 18th
century owner of the Cholmondely maps.
It is not known whether Lord Cholmondely had any real interest in rare
maps, or whether the maps were merely part of his inheritance which came
to light only when his estate was broken up.
There is, however, one name connected with some of the maps. Certain
maps have a label pasted on the back, bearing the name of the Hon. Robert
Clifford, with the motto Semper paratus and two wyverns; others
have a similar label with the initials R.C. and a design of oak leaves.
The coat of arms of the barons Clifford of Chudleigh (Devon, England)
includes a wyvern and the motto Semper paratus. The only Hon. Robert
Clifford I have been able to trace is a younger son of Hugh, 5th baron
Clifford of Chudleigh, born in 1767, died unmarried in 1817 (Debrett,
and Burke's Peerage). The maps which bear the labels are some of
the earliest in the collection, dating, as I have said above, to the first
decade of the 18th century, and the language used on these is French.
Naturally this does not rule out the possibility of the Hon. Robert Clifford
owning them at a later date, especially when we consider the likelihood
of his being a soldier himself.
The careers open to the younger sons of the nobility at that time were
almost completely restricted to the Church and the Army, and it is remarkable
how many of the maps do seem to have been made for military purposes.
That he may have been something of a scholar as well is suggested by an
entry in the British Museum Catalogue, where the Hon. Robert Clifford
is given as translator of Barruel's Memoirs illustrating the history
of Jacobinism, 1797; and of Buce's Parallel of Rome de l'Isle's
and the Abbe Hauy's theories of crystallography, 1804; and as author of
Application of Barruel's Memoirs... to the secret societies of
Ireland and Great Britain, 1798. No dates of birth or death are given,
but the dates of publication fit in quite reasonably to the life of the
Hon. Robert Clifford mentioned in Burke's Peerage.
The physical condition of the maps is very good. It would seem that
they were bought as sheets of about a foot square in most cases, and that
the sheets were then mounted on linen so that the paper was protected,
but the map could still be folded.
This means that no restoration work has been necessary; the maps are
still as easy to read as they originally were. With normally careful handling
they are quite usable.
Maps such as these are obviously of scholarly interest. They show the
boundaries of states throughout the 18th century, and illustrate the course
of the battles and wars which make up the history of Europe.
The surveyors who made these maps were skilled at their trade. Their
standards were far removed from those of earlier map-makers who had been
content to guess at the size and shape of the world, and who filled the
empty spaces on their maps with legends such as "Here be dragons". The
surveyors of the 18th century worked with scientifically correct instruments,
and although it is true that many parts of the world, such as the southern
parts of Africa, the northern areas of America, and most of Australia
were still uncharted, those parts which were mapped, named, and well known
tally very well with modern maps of the same areas.
The maps complement the Rare Book Room's collection of works of travel
printed in the 18th century. It would no doubt be very interesting to
read the written accounts of places and people of various parts of the
world in conjunction with the contemporary maps of the same areas."
Rare Maps Held in Research Collections
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