Smith produced his fi rst large-sca

Smith produced his fi rst large-scale geologic map, of the area
around Bath, Somerset, in , using colors—which he applied
by hand—to denote diff erent rock formations.  is is still the way
geologic maps are produced, as the illustration shows, with diff er-ent maps to show diff erent aspects of the structure and deposits of a
region.
In  Smith produced the fi rst rough sketch of his  geologic
map of England. In addition to rock formations, the  map used
symbols to indicate the location of roads, tramways, canals, tunnels,
coal mines, saltworks, some chemical factories, and lead, copper, and
tin mines. In  Smith published a geological section showing a
cross-section through the rocks all the way from Snowdon in North
Wales to London, a distance of about  miles ( km).
Smith fi nanced his travels himself, and his maps became well
known, but it was not long before they were being copied and sold
more cheaply than the prices he needed to charge in order to cover
his costs. At the same time academic scientists often treated him
with disdain because of his humble origins and lack of formal educa-tion. He felt snubbed, and the pirating of his work eventually bank-rupted him. He was imprisoned for debt and on his release on August
, , arrived home only to fi nd a bailiff waiting to seize his home
and all his property.