Cary, John

John Cary (c.1754-1835) was an English cartographer, engraver, globe maker & publisher. His work included English county maps, sectional maps of England and Wales, the environs of London, canal, highway & celestial maps. We stock maps from his New and Correct English Atlas (1787), Traveller's Companion (1790-1812-1828), New Map of England & Wales (1794), & Survey of the country 15 miles around London (1786), plus others. Cary’s maps catered to a growing need for accurate road maps in the late 18th century. His engraving and craftsmanship produced maps of a high standard that were clear and easy for the user to interpret. He became an apprentice to William Palmer in 1770 as an engraver in London, before setting up his own business in 1783. He soon gained a reputation for his maps and globes, and his New and Correct English Atlas became a standard reference work in England. He was commissioned by the Postmaster General to produce accurate maps of English highways and his Traveller’s Companion, which contained the so-called Cary miniature county maps, was based on the resulting brand new survey of the English and Welsh turnpike roads. The work was extremely popular and was a primary influence in the preliminary work of the Ordinance Survey office, (est. 1791). Distances were measured using a four foot wheel connected to a counter, which kept a tally of the number of rotations. This measuring device had to be pushed by hand along all the roads surveyed. It later resulted in Cary’s New Itinerary (1798), a map of all the major roads in England and Wales. He also made Ordnance Survey maps prior to 1805. His business passed to his sons George Cary and John Cary the younger. It was taken over by G. F. Cruchley in 1844, and subsequently by Gall & Inglis. Cary’s plates were used by other publishers well into the 19th century and it is thought that some continued to be used into the 20th century.

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Cary, John

"A map of Kent from the best authorities". County map. CARY 1806 old

"Britannia Romana, collected from Ptolemy…". Roman Britain. John CARY 1806 map

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1821

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1816

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1816

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1834

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1834

CHILTERN HILLS & UPPER THAMES VALLEY. Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire CARY 1832 map

NORTH LONDON, HERTFORDSHIRE & WEST ESSEX. Epping Forest Uttlesford CARY 1832 map

NORTH ESSEX & SOUTH SUFFOLK COASTS. Haven Ports. Tendring. CARY 1832 old map

NORTH NORFOLK & THE BROADS. Broadland. Great Yarmouth & Norwich. CARY 1832 map

South Yorkshire, NW Lincolnshire, North Nottinghamshire. CARY 1832 old map

THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS. York & Ainsty Liberty. CARY 1832 antique map chart

HOLDERNESS COAST & BRIDLINGTON BAY. Flamborough Head. Yorkshire. CARY 1832 map

SOUTHERN NORTUMBERLAND. North County Durham. Newcastle-upon-Tyne. CARY 1832 map

'Cary's reduction of his large map of England & Wales'. Turnpikes canals &c 1796

Cary's Improved Map of England and Wales - Index map. G. & J. Cary 1832

SOUTH DEVON & CORNWALL COAST. Dartmoor South Hams Tamar Fowey. CARY 1832 map

THE ENGLISH RIVIERA. Torbay & Dartmouth. South Hams. SE Devon. CARY 1832 map

PORTLAND BILL & THE SHAMBLES, Dorset. English Channel. CARY 1832 old map

Part of the English Channel. North Deep. West Deep. CARY 1832 old antique map

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