Early Strip Maps - John Ogilby 1675 & 1698, Bowen & Owen 1720 and Paterson 1785

I managed to acquire a number of early maps in a recent auction of some material from the Bath Postal Museum (sadly closed).  The earliest maps I acquired are strip maps drawn by John Ogilby published in 1675 & 1698, this first being of a portion of the London to Bristol road, going from London to Marlborough.

I also acquired a hand-colourised Ogilby strip map of the road from Chippenham to Wells and Marlborough to Wells. 

... and a plate from the 1939 reprint of the Ogilby maps showing London to Banbury.

In 1720 a half-scale version of John Ogilby's maps were published by Emanuel Bowen and John Owen - here is a strip map of the Chippenham to Wells road.

In 1785 Paterson's Itinerary was published as a book of strip maps, showing the houses of the gentry along the route.  The first one below shows Bath to Bristol ...

... while the second is Devizes through Philip's Norton.

 

Bisected 2p stamp used in June 1974

The envelope below, sent from Taunton to Ashill, Ilminster in June 1974 has a bisected 2p stamp used to make up the 3p second class rate.

The usage appears to have been accepted as the stamps have been cancelled and there is no postage due applied. 

Bason Bridge Climax rubber cancel 1919 - under Bridgwater not Highbridge

This postcard from October 1919 has a previously unknown Climax rubber cancel for "BASON BRIDGE / BRIDGWATER".  The post office in Bason Bridge had closed in 1916 and was thought to re-open in 1920, but this postcard indicates that it opened somewhat earlier. 

Bason Bridge was under Highbridge before it closed, as shown below ....

.... and later was under Highbridge again, as shown in this later envelope from 1939. 

 

WW I Red Cross Prisoner of War postcard redirected to Taunton, 1917

Below is a Red Cross prisoner of war postcard from Doberitz POW camp sent to London and redirected via Kent to Taunton, arriving in April 1917.  The card is signed "Bdsm D. Hall", perhaps Bandsman Hall ?  The card is requesting soap and toilet necessaries in the next Red Cross parcel.

 

Advertising card for The George, Commercial Inn & Post House, Ilminster

Below is an undated advertising card for The George Inn and Hotel in Ilminster.  Queen Victoria stayed there at the age of 7 months in 1819 (as Princess Victoria).  She ascended the throne on 18th June 1837 on the death of her uncle, William IV. 

The George has just reopened in Ilminster as a pub; here is a recent photograph (from a little while before it reopened).