Edward Croydon, Senior and Junior

For more information on Croydon, see my article on Torquay booksellers. Click here.

Edward Croydon and his two sons, Henry George (Teignmouth) and Edward (Torquay) published three maps.

Croydon 1 - see below.

Croydon 2 - The Teignmouth Guide (later also The Torquay Guide) - click here.

Croydon 3 - Torquay and its Neighbourhood - click here. 

In 1817 Edward Croydon printed and sold a most attractive guide books of Devon. The Guide to the Watering Places, on the Coast, Between the Exe and the Dart; … consisted of sixteen (and occasionally found with 17) coloured aquatints (of which four are folding) by D Havell, T Shury, and J C Stadler, after drawings by W B Noble (JVSC S.64). This was originally issued in three parts published in 1817 and 1818 with a map engraved by J Smith of London when bound complete[1]. Although all title pages to the first printing are dated 1817, at least seven of the views included are dated June 15 1818 suggesting the title page was issued with the first instalment and bound in after the series was completed. The text to this work was enlarged and appeared again in 1830 in The Teignmouth, Dawlish, And Torquay Guide suggesting that the original text was also written by N T Carrington (see Croydon 2). Croydon also published The Natural History of the District by W Turton & J F Kingston which lists the different species of flora, fauna and minerals of Devon and is believed to be Part II of Watering Places circa 1820.

William Bonneau Noble (1780-1831) was a landscape painter in water-colours who began life as a teacher of drawing. For some years he was very successful, but although he had two views in the exhibition of 1811 he became dejected and after failing to commit suicide in 1825, he finally died of decline in 1831.

Edward Croydon was printer, bookseller, publisher, stationer, engraver, ran a print and music warehouse as well as managing a circulating library. Throughout his career he was associated with premises at Regent Place in Teignmouth and is listed in many directories from c.1823.

George Henry Croydon also became a printer, working in Teignmouth from his father's address at Regent Place from c.1848. The two Teignmouth Croydons were trading as Edward and George Henry Croydon from about 1848 to 1862. The Teignmouth Guide, which continued to be reissued from 1826 when it was published until about 1875 was published by E Croydon & G H Croydon until circa 1863 or 1875. Click here to go to Croydon 2. However, the Plan of Teignmouth (Cockrem 4) published precisely during this period is only Published by Edward Croydon. Click here to go to Croydon 4.

Edward, fourth child and eldest son of Edward Senior would appear to have opened his own business in Torquay rather than take over his father's business. He also worked as stationer, bookbinder, librarian, music seller and, like his father, ran a Berlin Repository (1840). His Torquay premises were on Victoria Parade (1840-1866). In 1866 his Berlin Repository was registered at 5 Torwood Street and his Royal Library with printseller, bookseller and stationers activities in Victoria Parade. His Handbook for Torquay appeared in 1854 complete with map and a second edition circa 1860 sometimes included engravings. Click here to go to Croydon 3.

In 1860 A Plan of the Town of Teignmouth was published in folding covers in Teignmouth. Click here to go to Croydon 4. 


 Croydon 1

Size: 400 x 340 mm. Scale of Statute Miles (8 Furlongs + 3 = 100 mm).                                                                                                                                                                     

A MAP OF TEIGNMOUTH and its vicinity Copied from the Ordnance GRAND MAP OF Devon By Special Permission from the Right Honble THE BOARD OF ORDNANCE, Granted to Edwd Croydon, June 1817. (Ec). Imprint: Published by E Croydon, Teignmouth. (CeOS). Signature: Engraved by J. Smith, St Clements Inn, Strand.  (Ec below title). The coast is shown from the Mouth of the Ex (sic) along the coast to Berry Head. Inland the map covers everything east of Little Hempston and Bovey Tracey. The whole has a piano-key style frame.

 

1. 1817            A Guide to the Watering Places, on the Coast, Between the Exe and the Dart; Including Teignmouth, Dawlish, and Torquay, embellished with a general view of Teignmouth and Dawlish, and the various seats around them, with a short description of the neighbourhood

       Teignmouth. E Croydon. 1817 (1818), 1819.       DevA, BL[2]; KB[3].


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[1] This was first published complete in 1818. The work was reissued in 1819 (map) and 1821 (no map). The BL copy 10360.d.10 has title page:  also to be had of Knighton and Westcott, Dawlish, and Cole, Torquay with date below.

[2] BL 10360.d.9 is dated 1817 and lacks the "Trafalgar Cottage" plate; it conforms to R V Tooley’s entry 347.

[3] Previously unrecorded copy; not in Tooley or Abbey. The title page ends: Sold also at Gore's Dawlish, and Gilbert's, Torquay and with date below – 1817 as usual. However, the printed cover is identical except for: Sold also at Knighton's, Dawlish, and Cole's, Torquay. Date below is 1819. The pages are uncut, hence the publishing dates of all the folding aquatints can be seen (not in Tooley).

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