Senex, John “The VII United Provinces.” [Netherlands]

John Senex (1678-1740).  “The VII United Provinces.”  [Netherlands].  From Modern Geography. 

London: J. Senex, 1709.  Double folio; 25 ¼ x 36 ¾.  Engraving.  Full original hand color.  Good margins.  Some wear along the centerfold.  Fourteen inch repaired tear into map bottom right hand side.  Narrow bottom margin left hand side.  Some light soiling in map.  Overall, good condition for such a large map.

A very large and dramatic map issued by John Senex.  Senex was one of the leading English cartographers in the early part of the eighteenth century, a time when England was coming to the forefront of the world cartographic scene.  Senex was a popular and prolific mapmaker.  He produced maps that were highly regarded for their quality, as is evidenced by his appointment as Geographer to Queen Anne.  His maps were important for two reasons.  He was one of the first English cartographers to be strongly affected by the Baroque movement in the design of his maps as seen in the cartouches.  Secondly, his use of color and topographic detail is particularly skillful.  Both of the factors combine to give his maps not only eye-catching appeal, but also fine precision.  Most of the maps from this atlas, including this one, are double folio size, making them particularly unusual and striking.  The topographical detail is excellent, the color lovely, and the total impact imposing.  An excellent example of Senex’s work.