Synopsis of Geography
The Synopsis of Geography is another impressive work. This attempted to present an historical introduction to the sciences of geometry, astronomy and geography (in the Introduction of lvii pages) and also to explain the geometrical figures and problems … with an easy and regular method of drawing maps (41 pages plus a table of latitude and longitude translated from the French of more than a thousand locations around the world). This Synopsis of Geography, published in 1812, was printed for James Cooke at his Bloomsbury address (21, and Fig. 20).
A complete manual and guide to the drawing of
maps, with historical introduction, geometrical figures and discussion of projections
it is illustrated with 20 copper plates, most dated 1811 and signed by John Cooke.
The work also contains the full-page frontispiece of the moon engraved by Miss
Mary Cooke (Fig. 18). John’s
signature typically adds the address of 57 High Street, Bloomsbury, which was almost
certainly the address of his younger brother, James.[1]
There is no evidence to show what trade James was involved in and he may have
lent his name to this project to help his brother. John would name his first
child James.
As
one might expect for a London publication two of the companies listed on the
title page are in the capital: Longman and Co., major book distributors at the
time, and S Bagster, Strand who was also involved with Vivant Denon´s Egypt Delineated
(10). However, there are also Plymouth publishers such as Rees and Curtis,
and Nettleton and Son, who would both publish Picture of Plymouth / The
Tourist´s Companion (see 20). Other distributors were Woolmer and
Upham, Exeter; J C Motley, Portsmouth; S Hazard, Bath; W Brown and W Sheppard,
Bristol; T Milnes, Liverpool; Brodie, Dowdon and Luxford, Salisbury; and Darcy
and Hildyard, Hull.
The Synopsis was not advertised
extensively. Whereas the Universal Atlas had been widely advertised,
only one newspaper has so far been discovered which carried an advert for the Synopsis.
On Wednesday March 11, 1812, The Globe ran a small advert on its front
page (Fig. 21).
Fig.
20. Title Page
to A General Synopsis of Geography 1812.
The Synopsis suffered slightly less at the hands
of the critics than his Atlas had. The British Critic[2] complimented
the plate of the aspect of the moon by Mary (and speculated Mary was the author´s
daughter) and added: There is certainly so much merit in the engraving, that
we were willing also to bear our testimony to the ingenuity of the young artist.
The, otherwise negative review, finished with "Altogether it is a book
merely for beginners, and in that point of view is rendered rather more expensive
than it ought to be, and without necessity" (it cost £1). However, The
New Annual Register for the Year 1813[3], published
by John Stockdale, who had also published the works by Edwards, was rather more
complimentary but rather confused: We notice this as an elementary work
of great merit, on account of its neatness and accuracy. The Engravings, which are
executed by Miss Cooke, are peculiarly delicate and beautiful.
The text to the Synopsis, like the Atlas ten years
before it, reveals a vast amount of reading on the part of the author, however,
there is a complete difference when it comes to the content. Whereas the Atlas
confined itself, more or less, to what could be seen and experienced, the solar
system or the fixed stars etc., the Synopsis attempts to chart the
progress of Geography and of Astronomy from their roots to the present day. It
was written near to completion of the work as a reference to the appointment of
Mr Pond as Astronomer Royal in the present year, 1811 testifies (page
lvi). The writer had great admiration for the work of Sir Isaac Newton and the
final part of the Introduction is mainly devoted to his findings. The author is
very possibly Cooke as the title page seems to suggest and the explanations of
various geometrical figures and problems and easy and regular method
of drawing maps in the Synopsis certainly must have been by Cooke
himself (Fig. 30).
Two of the preliminary illustrations (these plates are not
numbered but printer´s instructions are included, top right) are newly engraved
plates of images that had originally appeared in the Universal Atlas. Both
The Seven Planets of the Solar System (now simply The Solar System)
and The Vicissitudes of the Seasons were increased in size (each
250 x 195 mm) and
given new imprints. The fourth introductory plate is of Refraction and Reflection.
The imprint is that found on all other plates; however, in 1816 it was reissued
with a Howland Street address, and this plate is referred to as being present
in the Circular Atlas Part I of 1801.
The
preparation and publication of the Synopsis
would have required an incredible amount of work in 1811 and 1812. There is new
evidence to show that not all text copies were sold and the Synopsis was
reissued, in slightly altered form and new title pages, in 1816; by this time
Cooke was living and working in Stonehouse, part of Plymouth today.
Besides the Synopsis maps, only seven more maps signed by Cooke have been found
which were produced after his departure from the Admiralty in 1805 but before
1817. These include the four maps for the Cyclopaedia
written and produced by Abraham Rees, a map of the British Empire in the East
and the maps of Plymouth Dock already mentioned. A short time after publication
of the Synopsis, John Cooke moved permanently to Plymouth. The fact that
this work was published from the address of James Cooke possibly indicates
temporary residence there while the Synopsis was published.
Cooke’s last signed works had been the 2 plans of Plymouth Dock of 1810/1811 and the Synopsis of 1812 giving London as his address. It would be three more years before the next works appeared signed by John Cooke and they would all be connected with the Plymouth area.
Fig. 21. Advert in The Globe, Wednesday March 11, 1812.
Links to sections of I - London
John Cooke of Howland Street (1799-1805)
The Ladies Circular Atlas and “Mr Barrow”
The Rev. Thomas Smith & The Universal Atlas
John Cooke and the Admiralty (1802-1805)
Between the Admiralty and Plymouth (1805-1812)
Links to section II - Plymouth.
Stonehouse (1813-1845)
Napoleon and Cooke´s first Plymouth engravings
The Copper-Plate Engraving, and Printing Office (1815-21)
John Cooke of Union Street, Stonehouse (1823-1845)
Summary
Return to Introduction
Link to IV: Short List of John Cooke's works.
Notes to Synopsis of Geography
[1] Another James Cooke was apprenticed to William Cooke, bookbinder, from
1745-1753; William´s
business being carried
on by his widow, Mary, after his death in 1775. The London Daily Advertiser carries
two announcements: 1. On Thursday [6 Apr] died at Pancras, Mr. Cooke, of Fetter-lane,
bookbinder to the Honourable House of Commons (8 Apr 1775); 2. All persons having
any demands on the estate of William Cooke, late of Fetter-lane, London, bookbinder,
deceased, are desired to send an account and particulars thereof to Mary Cooke,
his widow and administratrix, and all persons indebted to the estate are
desired to pay the same forthwith or they will be sued without further notice.
The business is carried on as usual, at the same place, by the widow, for the benefit
of herself and small family (17 Aug 1775).
[2] The British Critic for the second half of 1813 (Volume XLII); published by F C
and J Rivington; London; 1813.
[3] The New Annual Register
for the Year 1813; John Stockdale;
Piccadilly, London; 1814; p.368
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