The first large-scale survey of an English county

The first large-scale map of any English county, surveyed and published by Benjamin Donne at his own expense. In 1759 he was inspired by the announcement of a prize of £100 offered by the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce to anyone producing a large scale one inch to the mile map of any English county. He started his survey the following year and, after spending nearly £2,000 of his own money, issued his map five years later. Fortunately it was a great success, inspiring a number of other surveys. Engraved by Thomas Jefferys, the map is decorated with large title & dedication cartouches and a compass rose, and has inset plans of Exeter and Lundy Island. As the progenitor of this type of map, Donne had to devise his own conventions, for example how to differentiate between Turnpikes, open and enclosed roads.