Victorian OS Map 4. Carlisle
One of the earliest tasks of the Ordnance Survey of Great Britain was to make a reliable map of England and Wales at a scale of one inch to the mile. These maps, known as the first edition or Old series, were finely engraved on copper, printed in black and published between 1805 and 1873. They were revised from time to time, the most important change being the addition of the railway network. In collaboration with the Ordnance Survey David & Charles has republished in exact facsimile these later printings - combining the advantage of presenting essential information in the original edition with that of including the cumulative revision, especially of railway material. The maps include descriptive text on the survey, the drawing and engraving stages, plus publication history relating to the drawings and revisions that took place. The reprint is edited by Dr J B Harley, formerly of the Department of Geography, University of Exeter, who has provided a bibliographical note for each sheet, designed to assist in the dating and interpretation of the maps and to provide the historical background for their use.