England & Wales
This was the first map that Carr designed, while he was stationed in West Africa in 1943 with 270 Squadron of the R.A.F. during the Second World War (see title below, top right, for the locations where the map was drawn).
There may only have been one edition, reprinted in at least two impressions, both using the same design and the same limitation of 750 copies, which makes 1,500 proofs in total. All the maps shown below have the same basic design. The easiest distinguishing feature between the first two limited editions is the colour of the colophon, blue or brown. I don't know which came first. All the maps have a printed inscription at the lower margin Revised and published by J.L. Carr at 27 Mill Dale Road, KETTERING, England
. The revision presumably refers to changes he made to the map he designed in West Africa.
However, the fact that Carr gave two ISBNs to this map, one registered in July 1972 and one in May 1973, suggests two different editions, unless he mistakenly gave two different numbers to the same map? He applied three ISBNs to small books of the poems of William Blake.
The second blue
edition below, which was perhaps less expensive as it was printed in a single colour, may have been issued in large numbers, and uses the same design as the first edition. It has no limitation and is usually not signed.
Carr placed an advertisement for the map of England and Wales in The Times' Christmas marketplace in November 1973. It is likely to be for the second impression, if that was issued in May 1973. According to a copy seen on eBay, it was also originally sold by Heal's, an upmarket home furnishing company situated on Tottenham Court Road in London.
The Times, 27th November 1973, page 34
(Last updated on 24/2/2024)
MAP-E&W1: First edition (first or second impression)
Publisher: J.L. Carr
Year: July 1972
ISBN: 090084731X
Limitation: 750 sheets
Size: 698 x 519 mm
Signed: Yes
Proofs where: Kettering Public Library; British Library; AH (map & proof)
Notes: The ISBN of this map can be checked on ISBN check which then searches Amazon and reports that the number is: 'England and Wales: Historical and Architectural Map – Folded Map, 1 Jul 1972'.
The proof illustrated below was decorated in watercolours by hand, so may have different colours from other proofs.
Image of map (click to enlarge)
Detail of limitation (click to enlarge)
MAP-E&W1: First edition (second or first impression)
Publisher: J.L. Carr
Year: May 1973
ISBN: 090084731X
Limitation: 750 sheets
Size: 698 x 519 mm ?
Signed: Yes
Proofs where: See on internet
Notes: A copy of this map came up for sale on eBay, with a limitation of 750 sheets and signed by J.L. Carr. The colophon (lower left) and the background to the two boxes, top left and top right, is different from the impression shown above. The elaborate design to the top right is coloured differently, the circle in green, probably by hand. A proof has been seen without a limitation or signature, just a blank space where it should be. This map may be a reprint of the first impression shown above, or it could be the first impression.
Image of map (click to enlarge)
MAP-E&W2: Second edition
Publisher: J.L. Carr
Year: May 1973
ISBN: 0900847344
Limitation: 750 sheets
Size: xxx x xx mm
Signed: Yes
Proofs where:
Notes: Not seen. This is the map with a different ISBN, dated May 1973, so it is presumed to be different in some way from the first edition unless Carr allocated two ISBNs to the same map, of course. Both maps can be found listed on Amazon, U.K. I can't tell you how to tell them apart until I find one. If you have a different map or map with a different limitation, please contact me.
MAP-E&W3/4: Third/fourth? edition
Publisher: J.L. Carr
Year: unknown
ISBN:
Limitation: none stated
Size: 632 x 481 mm
Signed: Yes
Proofs where:
Notes: This map has no limitation. Carr has written next to the colophon: J.L. Carr 1944, Bathhurst, The Gambia, West Africa
. The only other difference from the first edition is a line of text at the very bottom, written by hand: "and to them this map is dedicated". These added inscriptions are printed.
Image of map (click to enlarge)