England & Wales Geology 1843 – Rare Map by Roderick Impey Murchison

This unusual map shows the geology of England and Wales in remarkable detail, with the rock formations of both nations set out in colour. It was created by the geologist Roderick Impey Murchison and published by Chapman & Hall in 1843. A fully coloured geological map from this period is a genuinely rare survival.

Murchison was one of the great figures of Victorian geology. A few years before this map appeared he had named the Silurian system after the Silures, the ancient tribe of the Welsh borders where he studied the rocks, and he had lately named the Permian system too. The level of detail here is extraordinary, with dozens of annotated towns, landmarks and geological boundaries, all still legible at every print size.

This would make a thoughtful gift for a birthday, Christmas or housewarming for anyone with an interest in geology or the earth sciences. Like every print in the collection, it is printed on matte paper, ships unframed and is available in a range of sizes, from a compact study print to a large statement piece.