John Cary

John Cary, born about 1754, is certainly one of the most prolific of all map-makers, and not only a superb engraver, with fine and accurate lettering on his maps, but the first to dispense with all decoration and produce maps of real utility.

Cary was certainly engraving by the late 1770'S. His map selling premises were No. 181. Strand, London, but as these were burnt out on January 7th, 1820, he removed to St. James's Street.

His brother William cary was a globe and instrument maker, and his two sons, also in the business, contributed towards its considerable prestige.

The Cary quarto-size county maps appeared first in 1787 and these were later re-issued many times, sometimes with freshly engraved maps of exactly the same appearance.

There are also two different folio sets of county maps which were issued in 1789 and 1805 respectively. These maps have interesting detail with the roads and by-roads shown.

The Cary General Atlas of the World is a fine work, a series of maps with outline colouring, or sometimes the full delicate wash colouring that compliments the very pleasing and accurate workmanship.

The Cary maps of North America of which there are a whole series are of particular interest. He died in August 1835, and the business was taken over by C. F. Cruchley.