Rocque’s 24-sheet London plan, from the library of Chiswick House

An early example of Rocque's landmark map of London, with a library spine with the gilt stamp of the Duke of Devonshire (a coronet & 'D'), and with the bookplate of the duke's town residence, Chiswick House, on the front pastedown. At the time of rebinding the rare street index was bound at the rear, in order to keep the two works together. Rocque's plan was the largest up to that time, at 26 inches to a mile, covering from New River Head, Limehouse, Walworth to Knightsbridge and Chelsea Waterworks. He used his experience as an estate-surveyor to introduce different hachuring to denote the usage of land, including pasture, formal gardens and orchards. The detail is such that even 'Ditches' have their own section in the index. In 1736 Rocque published a survey of Chiswick House Gardens, a commission from its owner, Richard Boyle, 3rd Earl of Burlington. In 1756 the house was inherited by the 4th Duke of Devonshire, son of the subscriber of this work. For more information please see our special PDF catalgue.