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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 / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102174
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102178
Place/Date:
London / 1824 circa
Size:
8 x 9.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102192
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
7.7 x 9.4 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102223
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
8 x 9 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102687
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
8 x 9 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102696
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
9.4 x 7.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102741
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
7.75 x 9.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102652
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
7.75 x 9.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102742
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
8 x 9.5 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
102799
Place/Date:
London / 1824
Size:
8 x 9.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
102800

Archived

Place/Date:
London / 1854
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57932
Place/Date:
London / 1854
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
58088
Place/Date:
London / 1854
Size:
18.5 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
67254
Place/Date:
London / 1853
Size:
25 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57285
Place/Date:
London / 1853
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57485
Place/Date:
London / 1853
Size:
23.5 x 18 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57709
Place/Date:
London / 1853
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
65190
Place/Date:
London / 1851
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
35119
Place/Date:
London / 1851
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
35149
Place/Date:
London / 1851
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57969
Place/Date:
London / 1851
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
58296
Place/Date:
London / 1850
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57951
Place/Date:
London / 1848
Size:
23.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57195
Place/Date:
London / 1848
Size:
23.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
64855
Place/Date:
London / 1847
Size:
23.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57430
Place/Date:
London / 1846
Size:
20 x 24 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
57682
Place/Date:
London / 1846
Size:
19 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
64700
Place/Date:
London / 1846
Size:
32.5 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
73811
Place/Date:
London / 1844
Size:
19 x 23.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
68006
Place/Date:
London / 1844
Size:
19.6 x 24.8 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
73782
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
5040
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
5048
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030b
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030bb
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 12 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030d
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030e
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030ff
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030i
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
98030ll
Place/Date:
London / 1842
Size:
24 x 20 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
98030o