The Eaki. oi- Kicrry — Lansdowne Maps oj the Dmoii Stirvc;/. 395 



The first publication of tlie county and provincial maps appears to have 

 taken place in 1683, four years before Petty's death. The frontispiece beare 

 that date, with a portrait of the autlior and the words " cum privile<;io regis," 

 while the title given to the work is " Hibernia Delineatio quoad hactenus 

 licuit perfeetissinia studio Guilielmi Petty equitis aurati." 



In his will Petty bequeaths "the copper plates for tlie maps of Ireland, 

 which, with the King's privilege, I rate at £100 per annum." It is noticeable 

 that the words " cum privilegio regis " have been eliminated in a later 

 published edition, from which it would appear that Petty's successor gave up 

 his copyright. 'Lhis, perhaps, explains the dedication which appears in a copy 

 of the volume in the National Library of Ireland : '" To Henry, Earl and Baron 

 of Shelburne, Viscount Duukerron, by whose munificence the original copper 

 plates of Sir William Petty's survey of Ireland were freely communicated for 

 the public good." Henry Petty followed his brother Charles in 1696 in the 

 succession to Sir AVilliam Petty's estate. He was not, however, created Earl 

 of Shelburne until 1719, so the date of this later edition cannot have been 

 anterior to that year. 



The Lansdowne county and provincial MS. maps are precisely identical 

 with those engraved, though, as already mentioned, nine of tlie published set 

 of thiity-seven are missing. There can be little doubt that the sis. maps 

 are the originals from which the engraved plates were taken. 



The whole set of these copper plates was iu the possession of Lord 

 Lansdowne in 1875, and a series of fresh impressions were then taken from 

 them ; the plates themselves, however, were never returned by the printer, 

 and all efforts since made to trace them have unfortunately proved unavailing. 



[ArPKNDIX I. 



