Mary Anne Reynolds
MAP of the WORLD ACCORDING to the lateft DISCOVERIES work'd by MARY ANN REYNOLDS at E PRICE'S SCHOOL WORCESTER MDCCLXXXIX

Mary Ann Reynolds was christened on June 8th 1775 at St Clement's Church, Worcester, the daughter of Joseph and Hannah Reynolds. At the age of fourteen she was attending E. Price's School, Worcester, when she embroidered this complex double globe sampler of the world in the year 1789. The two hemisphere's are titled WESTERN HEMISPHERE of the NEW WORLD and EASTERN HEMISPHERE of the OLD WORLD.
The sampler reflects the increasing geographical knowledge of the English in the 18th century and reveals a broadening of the world with which English students and literate society were expected to be familiar. As travel , exploration and the spread of colonialism increased, the teaching of geography in schools became increasingly common. This fashion enabled the teacher and pupil to display their geographical knowledge at the same time as showing outstanding needlework skills, and as such were often worked as a finale to an expensive private education.
On close examination of the map some interesting geographical information appears, this includes the routes of Cooks voyages in 1775 and 1770 and his Return South and Track North. Australia appears as New Holland with Botany Bay and Port Hicks marked. Other named places include Negroland, Mogul Empire, Chinese and Independent Tartary and Hottentots.
Parish records show that Mary was twenty one years old on her marriage to Richard James The wedding took place in the same church as she was christened on June 15th 1796.
Worked on fine linen with black and coloured silks. Probably worked on a ready printed background.