An attractive and detailed early 17th Century map of Anglo-Saxon England (Heptarchy) which was engraved by William Hole and published in William Camden’s Britannia* (London:1607-1637). This particular example comes from either the 1607 and 1610 edition which are without Latin text on the reverse or a plate number in the bottom left.
“This unjustly neglected map is the earliest obtainable (at a modest price) of England and Wales [to have been] printed in England … Designed to illustrate the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom for the historical section of the ‘Britannia’ … the names are given in a script which purports to be ‘Anglo-Saxon’, a key being given in the top left corner.” (Moreland & Bannister, ‘Antique Maps’ 1983 Longman, p,212).
*’Britannia’, first published in 1586, was one of the most popular and influential books of the period. The work of the Elizabethan antiquarian, William Camden (1551-1623), it was a detailed historical and topographical description of Great Britain. Its patriotic sentiments, in particular, both appealed to and generated the growing sense of nationalism that was coursing through late Tudor / early Stuart society. Between 1607** and 1637 county maps, based largely on Saxton’s surveys and engraved by William Kip and William Hole, were added. These maps have the distinction of being the first set to show each county individually as opposed to several being grouped together on one page. Camden’s Britannia continued to be published well into the 19th century; from 1695 to 1772, county maps by Robert Morden were used, and from 1789 to c.1815, those by the renowned John Cary.
- This is an original copperplate engraving with later hand colour.
- Printed area is approximately 32.2cms by 27.6cms.
- The map is in very good condition with decent margins; centrefold, as issued. Click on image for better view.
- Click on ‘Delivery Policy’ for Postage costs.
- Guaranteed to be over 400 years old.
