A Geographical Description of the Four Parts of the World, published in 1670, serves as a primary point of historical reference for the career of Richard Blome. Operating within the Kingdom of England during the seventeenth century, Blome established a professional reputation as a cartographer, engraver, and publisher, contributing to the broader dissemination of geographical knowledge during an era of commercial maritime expansion.
Professional Cartography and Publishing
Blome managed the production of several geographical volumes throughout his career. In 1673, he issued Britannia, or a Geographical Description of the Kingdom of England, Scotland and Ireland, which featured plates measuring approximately 315 by 280 mm. He further engaged in the condensation of existing cartographic works, producing Speed's Maps Epitomiz'd in 1681. This specific work, composed of maps measuring 180 by 230 mm, saw multiple re-issues in 1685 and 1693. It was later incorporated into a volume of Cosmography and Geography, and re-published by Thomas Taylor in 1715.
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Beyond his independent publishing projects, Blome worked on larger compilations and specialized texts. He contributed to the 1682 publication of Cosmography and Geography, which was re-issued periodically between 1683 and 1693. His interests also extended to social and political documentation, evidenced by his 1686 release of The Gentlemans Recreation. In 1687, he produced Isles and Territories of America, a work commissioned for Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury. Due to the text's significance, a French edition followed in 1688.
Context of Seventeenth-Century Exploration
The professional activities of Blome occurred within a period where exploration was frequently driven by commercial interests and corporate objectives rather than royal mandate. Dutch-led ventures dominated the period, focusing on the systematic mapping of coastlines to serve the logistics of maritime trade. These logistical efforts determined the success of voyages, with charts and routes often outlasting the physical expeditions themselves. Blome operated as an historian and recorder of these geographical achievements until his death in 1705.
Fast facts
- Born: 1635
- Died: 1705
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Primary Occupations: Historian, cartographer, publisher
- Britannia Publication Year: 1673
- Speed's Maps Epitomiz'd Average Size: 180 x 230 mm
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Richard Blome publish?
He focused on geography, cartography, historical accounts, and social interests, including a publication titled The Gentlemans Recreation.
What was the significance of his work on American territories?
He published Isles and Territories of America in 1687 for Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury, followed by a French edition in 1688.
Achievements
- Recorded as cartographer, historian and publisher
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