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'MAPP of ye Bishoprick of DVRHAM' by Richard Blome, printed in c.1682.
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Little is known of Richard Blome’s early life, but from the body of work he produced, it can be seen that he was very active between 1660 and 1705. Based in London, he produced several books on various subjects including cosmography and geography, some of which included an interesting selection of maps of various parts of the world, Asia being one of his first areas of interest. He also produced a collection entitled Britannia as well as providing maps for various published works of the late 17th century. In 1681, he was responsible for a superb, illustrated pocket atlas, his idea being to make maps both more accessible and also more portable.
Over the years, a number of suggestions that Blome’s work was not necessarily strictly of his own volition. Accusations of plagiarism were viciously rumoured at the beginning of the eighteenth century, mainly by competing mapmakers. These notions were based largely the fact that Blome had worked with big names such as John Speed, John Ogilby and Thomas Kichin amongst many others, with whom he did have good working partnerships. It is quite reasonable to suggest that Blome's cartographic knowledge probably came from these big names, but there is no solid evidence to suggest any villainy. By the same token, it is also reasonable to suspect this defamation was, perhaps, an early example of calculated character assassination in business.
It is true that some similarities with other mapmakers’ work, particularly Kip and Hole, can be seen on some of his county maps. Amidst probably spurious accusations of plagiarism, Blome remained an accomplished engraver and artist, and produced some superbly decorative and detailed works that are highly prized to this day.
Over the years, a number of suggestions that Blome’s work was not necessarily strictly of his own volition. Accusations of plagiarism were viciously rumoured at the beginning of the eighteenth century, mainly by competing mapmakers. These notions were based largely the fact that Blome had worked with big names such as John Speed, John Ogilby and Thomas Kichin amongst many others, with whom he did have good working partnerships. It is quite reasonable to suggest that Blome's cartographic knowledge probably came from these big names, but there is no solid evidence to suggest any villainy. By the same token, it is also reasonable to suspect this defamation was, perhaps, an early example of calculated character assassination in business.
It is true that some similarities with other mapmakers’ work, particularly Kip and Hole, can be seen on some of his county maps. Amidst probably spurious accusations of plagiarism, Blome remained an accomplished engraver and artist, and produced some superbly decorative and detailed works that are highly prized to this day.
Richard Blome: London engraver, geographer and mapmaker -
most active: 1600-1705.