Surveying--Leigh, Valentine (d. 1563).

The moste profitable and commendable science, of surveying of landes, tenementes, and heriditamentes... Newly imprinted and corrected. London: [J. Kingston] for A. Maunsell, 1578, ff. [64], 3 folding letterpress tables at B1, I1 (Parcell. terrarum & possessionum Ioannis Style miltitis) and at end (Tab. decimalium), illustration: woodcut figures, initials, [STC 15417; Taylor, Tudor & Stuart p. 174; see also ODNB]

17th century signature of Ra[lph] Dowcett Feudigraphia. There were two Ralph Dowcetts, one (1659-1677) the son of an earlier figure attested in 1651, both of Terling in Essex; see F. Steer, J. Andrews and others, Dictionary of land surveyors and local map-makers... 1530-1750, 2nd edition ed. Sarah Bendall (London: British Library, 1997), ii, D280

Valentine Leigh's book went through a number of editions, being first printed in 1577. Folkingham, who came from Lincolnshire, is much concerned to write a general guide and, as can be seen from the title, it was aimed at colonists. This copy has an interesting provenance (see below).

Oddi's innovative system of land surveying was based on the equilateral triangle. The Honeyman copy of this book contained a portrait of the author, but this is not mentioned by Riccardi or Sotheran, and must have been an insert.