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The Arrowsmiths were a cartographic dynasty which operated from the late-eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth. The family business was founded by Aaron Arrowsmith (1750-1823), who was renowned for carefully prepared and meticulously updated maps, globes, and charts. He created many maps that covered multiple sheets and which were massive in total size. His spare yet exacting style was recognized around the world and mapmakers from other countries, especially the young country of the United States, sought his maps and charts as exemplars for their own work.

Aaron Arrowsmith was born in County Durham in 1750. He came to London for work around 1770, where he found employment as a surveyor for the city’s mapmakers. By 1790, he had set up his own shop which specialized in general charts. Arrowsmith had five premises in his career, most of which were located on or near Soho Square, a neighborhood the led him to rub shoulders with the likes of Joseph Banks, the naturalist, and Matthew Flinders, the hydrographer.

Through his business ties and employment at the Hydrographic Office, Arrowsmith made other important relationships with Alexander Dalrymple, the Hudson’s Bay Company, and others entities. In 1810 he became Hydrographer to the Prince of Wales and, in 1820, Hydrographer to the King.

Aaron Arrowsmith died in 1823, whereby the business and title of Hydrographer to the King passed to his sons, Aaron and Samuel, and, later, his nephew, John. Aaron Jr. (1802-1854) was a founder member of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and left the family business in 1832; instead, he enrolled at Oxford to study to become a minister. Samuel (1805-1839) joined Aaron as a partner in the business and they traded together until Aaron left for the ministry. Samuel died at age 34 in 1839; his brother presided over his funeral. The remaining stock and copper plates were bought at auction by John Arrowsmith, their cousin.

John (1790-1873) operated his own independent business after his uncle, Aaron Arrowsmith Sr., died. After 1839, John moved into the Soho premises of his uncle and cousins. John enjoyed considerable recognition in the geography and exploration community. Like Aaron Jr., John was a founder member of the RGS and would serve as its unofficial cartographer for 43 years. Several geographical features in Australia and Canada are named after him. He carried the title Hydrographer to Queen Victoria. He died in 1873 and the majority of his stock was eventually bought by Edward Stanford, who co-founded Stanford’s map shop, which is still open in Covent Garden, London today.

Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65361
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
19 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
66939
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
67427
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
67447
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
67966
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
25 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
68034
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
8 x 11.5 inches (each)
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
70507
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
10.3 x 9.5 inches (each)
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
70579
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
99956
Place/Date:
London / 1841
Size:
12 x 10 inches (each)
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
70678
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
28 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64980
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
19 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65562
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65561
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
23.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
67750
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
19.5 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
71490
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
20 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
73541
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
76200
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
84570
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
24.5 x 19.5 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
89019
Place/Date:
London / 1840
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
97930
Place/Date:
London / 1834
Size:
24.5 x 24.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
57227
Place/Date:
London / 1832
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
66879
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101592
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
8 x 9 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101641
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101666
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101694
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101738
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
101953
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
Good
Stock#:
102082
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102025

Archived

Place/Date:
London / 1868
Size:
18 x 11.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17772
Place/Date:
London / 1864
Size:
18 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64967
Place/Date:
London / 1864
Size:
18 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
67362
Place/Date:
London / 1863
Size:
25 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
33766
Place/Date:
London / 1861
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65083
Place/Date:
London / 1861
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65495
Place/Date:
London / 1859
Size:
23.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64412
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
57619
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
23.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64854
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64968
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
64962
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 19.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65003
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65039
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
19.5 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65103
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65132
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
19 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65291
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65298
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65326
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65360
Place/Date:
London / 1858
Size:
24 x 19.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
67394
Place/Date:
London / 1857
Size:
20 x 24.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
64576
Place/Date:
London / 1856
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57763
Place/Date:
London / 1856
Size:
24 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65496
Place/Date:
London / 1854
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57526
Place/Date:
London / 1854
Size:
24 x 19.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57561