Robert Morden (c. 1650 – 1703) was an English bookseller, publisher, and mapmaker, globemaker and engraver.He was among the first successful commercial map makers.
Between about 1675 and his death in 1703, he was based under the sign of the Atlas at premises inCornhill and NewCheapside,London. Hiscartographical output was large and varied. His best-known maps are those of South Wales, North Wales and the English Counties first published in a new edition ofWilliam Camden'sBritannia in 1695, and subsequently reissued in 1722, 1753 and 1772. These maps were based on new information from gentlemen of each county, and were newly engraved. Each had a decoratedcartouche, and showed numerous place names.[1] Morden also produced in 1701 a series of smaller county maps often known as Miniature Mordens.
In 1695 he published a map of Scotland. It is in parts (e.g. Skye and the Western Isles) essentially a copy of the 1654 map done byRobert Gordon of Straloch, published byJoan Blaeu; other parts show evidence of more accurate cartography.
His (fourth edition) ofGeography Rectified: or a Description of the World from 1700 dedicated to a Thomas Goddard, is a comprehensive work from many aspects.It has more than 700 pages, including a long pedagogic preface, no fewer than 78 maps from Europe including the British Isles, Asia, Africa, America and a two circular maps of the world, representing planet Earth seen from exactly opposite sides – the known world as of its time.[2] (Australia was not yet known in Europe by then; Antarctica was not known anywhere.) It further contains explanations of many general geographical concepts such asLatitude andLongitude and more. It also contains several comparisons of commodities, customs, history, governments, coins and weights (etc) "with those in London". Its index is extensive.
He published a new map of theTamil homeland, Coylot Wanees Country, in 17th-centuryCeylon.
He is also known for several very rare early maps of theBritish colonies in North America, which are now among the earliest and most sought-after maps for collectors of old American maps. He also produced a series of miniature maps of the world, which appeared in both playing-card format and in a series of atlases, including hisAtlas Terrestris andGeography Anatomiz'd, beginning in 1687.[3]
Morden was a member of the guildThe Worshipful Company of Weavers. He was an apprentice ofJoseph Moxon, hydrographer toCharles II. Apprentices who trained under Morden include Mary Ward in 1674,Philip Lea in 1675 and Margaret Wearg in 1675.[4]
The links below are to images of Morden's county maps as published in 1722 (Camden'sBritannia, Volume 1[5] & Volume 2[6]). It is noted in the Preface that the maps had been revised since their first publication in 1695, with place-name spellings adjusted where they 'did not answer either the way ofwriting or thecommon way ofpronouncing among the People'.
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