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Robert Sayer (ca. 1724-1794) was a prominent London map publisher. Robert’s father was a lawyer, but his older brother married Mary Overton, the widow of prominent mapmaker Philip Overton and the proprietor of his shop after his death. Mary continued the business for roughly a year after her marriage and then, in early 1748, it passed to Robert. Robert became a freeman of the Stationers’ Company later that year; his first advertisement as an independent publisher was released in December.

Sayer benefited from Overton’s considerable stock, which included the plates of John Senex. In the 1750s, Sayer specialized in design books and topographical prints, as well as comic mezzotints. In 1753, he, along with John Roque, published a new edition of Thomas Read’s Small British Atlas, the first of several county atlases that Sayer would publish.  

Sayer’s business continued to grow. In 1760 he moved further down Fleet Street to larger premises at 53 Fleet Street. In 1766, he acquired Thomas Jefferys’ stock when the latter went bankrupt. In 1774, he entered into a partnership with John Bennett, his former apprentice. The pair specialized in American atlases, based on the work of Jefferys. They also began publishing navigational charts in the 1780s and quickly became the largest supplier of British charts in the trade.

Bennett’s mental health declined, and the partnership ended in 1784. As Sayer aged, he relied on his employees Robert Laurie and James Whittle, who eventually succeeded him. He spent more and more time at his house in Richmond. In 1794, he died in Bath.   

Place/Date:
London / 1779
Size:
17 x 20.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
45084
Place/Date:
London / 1788 circa
Size:
16 x 22 inches (binding)
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
99938

Archived

Place/Date:
London / 1757 circa
Size:
17.5 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
89400
Place/Date:
London / 1760
Size:
21.5 x 19 inches
Condition:
Good
Stock#:
62691
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
22 x 18 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
11790
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17960
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17961
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
22 x 18 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17959
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17962
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
17964
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
54.5 x 42 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
28048
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
48 x 41 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
28217
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 16 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
45195
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
26 x 19 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
50211
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50230
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50680
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
25.5 x 18.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50761
Place/Date:
London / 1772
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG-
Stock#:
55493mb
Place/Date:
London / 1773 circa
Size:
27 x 15.5 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
44081
Place/Date:
London / 1774
Size:
19 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
16926
Place/Date:
London / 1775
Size:
19.5 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10175