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Selection of Antique Maps of
The British Isles
Click on thumbnails
for a larger image
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Covens,
J., & Mortier, C. Les Isles Britanniques ou sont le Royaumes
d'Angleterre.
Published in Amsterdam in 1730, the second state, with the addition of
the Covens and Mortier imprint. The first state was published by Mortier
alone for his Atlas Novus. Fine example, an excellent impression, in
original outline colouring.
Plate size: 47 x 57.5cm with 2.5cm margins on all sides.
£
350
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 BURGHERS,
Michael.
Two copper plate engravings, published in Magna Britannia in about 1715.
Each is signed: M. Burghers sculp Univ Oxon. Both are based on Morden’s
maps that appeared in Camden’s Britannia, 1695. Both have longitude
based on London.
Britannia Romana. Numbered 17 in top right border. 18.5 x 26.5cms.
£
80
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 Britannia
Saxonica. Numbered 41 in top right border. 18 x 26.5cms.
£60
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 SANSON,
Nicolas. South-west of England and south Wales.
Engraving published in Paris in 1654. Original hand colouring.
37 x 53.5cm
£300 |
 COLLINS,
Capt. Greenville. The Severn or Channell of Bristoll.
Copper plate engraving, first published in 1693, this edition c.1720, thick
paper, uncoloured.
Shows the coast of Wales from Gowins Pt [St Gowan's Pt] to Chepstow and
the coast of England from Tintagle to Aust Ferry. Scale: Leagues or Miles,
7 = 4½ inches or 111mm. The dedication reads: To the Right Honourable
Sr Robt Southwell Kt Who attended his Maj Who attended his Majty K. William
the 3d; in his Expedition for Ireland in Quality of Principall Secretary
of State for that Kingdom. Above is an elaborate coat of arms. Beneath
is a view of the King's arrival at the mouth of the Avon. At Shere Hampton
near King Road, landed his Majtie on the 6t of Septr 1690 he sailed in
27 hours from Duncannon Fort to King Road and lay that night at Kings Weston
at the house of Sr Robert Southwell.
Image size: 43.5 x 55cm. Good margins extra.
£400 |
British Islands.
Single sheet, divided in four equal sections, each with title and separate scale.
Holy Island. [top left.]
The only one of the four to have the name of the map maker: Iames Burrell, on a banner between the dividers above the scale. The caption beneath the scale bar reads: A Scale conteyning 32 pearch to one Inche. The bar is in five segments of 32, presumably perches, 160 measuring 1¼ inches. A perch equals 5½ yards.
Garnsey. [Guernsey] [top right.]
Scale of English miles 6 = nearly 3 inches.
Farne. [lower left]
Scale of miles 4 = 2¼ inches.
Iarsey [Jersey] [lower right]
Scale of miles nearly 2½ inches
Performed by Iohn Speede and are to be solde by Thomas Bassett in Fleetstreet and Richard Chiswell in St Pauls Churchyard.
Jodocus Hondius Caelvit Anno domini 1610.
Very good example, well coloured at a later date.
385 x 510 mm.
£500
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Mercator, Gerard. British Islands.
Anglesey; Vectis [Isle of Wight]; Garnesy [Guernsey]; and Iarsey [Jersey].
Shown on single sheet, each island occupies a quarter of the sheet.
Excellent impression.
Very good later colouring. Minor paper fault on margin at lower left corner.
Image size: 318 x 430mm.
£300
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Morden, Robert. The Smaller Islands in the British Ocean By Robt Morden Sold by Abel Swale Awnsham and John Churchill.
The date of 1695 is added in manuscript beneath the imprint.
There are eight islands shown on the sheet, each within a ruled border, listed here in clockwise order from the top right of the sheet:
Wight I; Alderney; Garnsey ol' Sarina; Iersey ol' Caesarea; Scilly I.; Man I.; Holy I.; and Farne I.
Fine condition, very good later colouring, the seas shown in wash, smoothly applied.
Image size: 356 x 415mm.
£150
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 BLAEU,
Joannes. Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.
Separate maps on single sheet. C.1650. Latin text verso. Fine
publisher’s colouring, the margins slightly discoloured at the extremities,
otherwise in very good
condition. It is unusual to find the map still intact.
Plate: 42 x 53.5cm.
£320 |
 John Speed's map of Buckinghamshire.
Buckingham Both Shyre and Shiretowne describ.
Published by G. Humble, 1646.
Plans of Buckingham and Reading.
Later colour. Fine condition.
£900 |
 John Speed's map of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire described with the diuision of the hundreds, the Townes situation. With the Armes of the Colleges of the Famous Vniuersiti. And also the Armes of all such Princes and noble men as have heretofore borne the honorable tytles & dignities of the Earldome of Cambridg.
Performed by Iohn Speede and are to be solde in popes head alley by John Sudbury and G. Humbell. Cum Previlegio Anno 1610.
The edition of 1627.
Panels at each side show arms of the University and of the founder and fifteen arms of the colleges. Across the bottom border are seven arms of the Earls of Cambridge. Top left is the plan of the city of Cambridge with a key to 26 landmarks. Top right is the Royal arms with the title beneath. At the bottom corners are academics, two at each side. On the left, one is holding the scale of the map with a pair of dividers.
Image size:385 x 525mm. This is fractionally larger than most of the county maps by Speed. Quite often the borders are trimmed. This example is intact.
£2000 |
 John Speed's map of Cornwall
Cornwall. Ioducus Hondius caelavit. Anno Domini 1610. Theise Mappes are to be solde in Popes heade alley against ye Exchange by John Sudbury and G. Humble. Cum Privilegio.
The scarce Latin edition of 1616.
Primitive illustration of Launceston at top left corner, Royal arms at top centre, four historical stones at right side, eight coats of arms along bottom edge, four galleons in full sail and five unfriendly looking sea monsters all contribute to make this undoubtedly the most spectacular of Speed's maps. The colouring is original and exceptionally good. The only fault is a little rubbing to the colouring on the Royal arms.
38 x 51 cms. with good margins extra.
£2,000
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 John Speed's map of Devonshire.
Devonshire with Excester Described...
Published by Sudbury and Humble, 1646.
Plan of Exeter.
Early 20th century colouring. Good condition.
£800 |
 John Speed's map of Dorset
Dorsetshyre...
Published by Roger Rea, 1662, the date altered from 1610.
Plan of Dorchester.
Early 20th century colouring. Very good condition.
£600 |
 SAXTON,
Christopher. Durham.
The edition
published by Philip Lea, c.1693.
The County Palatine and Bishoprick of DURHAM Described by C. Saxton and
Amended with Additions by P: Lea.
Much altered from the original engraving date of 1576, which was the first
printed map of the county. The map still bears the signature of the engraver,
Augustinus Ryther, with the date he engraved the plate. The original title,
top left, is replaced by a plan of Durham, taken from the county map by
John Speed. The arms of Queen Elizabeth, top right, is altered to the arms
of Charles I. The arms of Thomas Seckford, the original sponsor, is replaced
by the new title. The alterations give an entirely different appearance
to the map.
There are numerous geographical additions to place names to the neighbouring
counties. Many more hills have been added to Westmoreland. Names of wards
are now included. Outside the border at the top and the left side graticules
are added with letters.
There was a proposed edition of the map in 1665. The changes mentioned
above were made at this date. In circa 1689, close examination shows a
mitre added to Durham and a cross added to each of the market towns. In
the edition of c.1693, the title is again altered to read as above. Beneath
the title can be seen the partial erasure of the previous title. The principal
roads are shown, taken from John Ogilby’s Britannia, which would
have made the atlas very much more desirable. At Weardale (spelt Weredale)
a tent is added.
The map is a very good impression and is in fine condition. There is some
colouring to the borders of the county only, the rest is left plain.
Plate size: 38 x 49cm.
£750 |
 NORDEN,
JOHN. Essexia.
Engraved by William Kip, published in the 1610 edition of Camden’s
Britannia.
Good impression with good later hand colouring, done with sympathy, a
green wash to the border of the county. The boundaries of the hundreds
are left uncoloured. Small repairs to the top margin, a some minor staining.
28.5 x 36cm
£400
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 KEERE,
Pieter van den.
Essex. 1676.
Known as ‘Miniature Speed.” 8.5 x 12cm.
£100 |
 MORDEN,
Robert.
Essex.
The smaller map, published for the series Fifty six New and Acurate Maps
Of Great Britain, Ireland and Wales, in 1708, is a rarer map than the Morden
published in Camden’s Britannia, in 1695. This is a very good example,
in good condition and later colour.
17 x 21cm
£100 |
Johan Blaeu
Isle of Wight.
Vectis Insula. Anglice The Isle of Wight.
No date, but 1648.
Very fine example with original hand colouring.
Image size: 385 x 505mm
£350
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 DRAYTON,
Michael. KENT
Allegorical map of Kent, engraved by William Hole for Drayton’s
Polyolbion.
‘An Intriguing series of novelty maps was published in 1612 to illustrate
the poems of Michael Drayton’s Polyolbion, blank verse extolling the beauties
of the English and Welsh countryside. Hardly a city or a town is named, but the
rivers and hills are predominant, each river adorned by a Goddess.’ From
Roger Baynton-Williams ‘Investing in Maps’.
First edition of 1612.
Good later colour.
Image measures 250 x 330mm
£400
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 Emanuel Bowen.
An Accurate Map of the County of Kent
Published by John Tinney, 1753.
The first edition was by Hinton in 1751, this is the second. A very fine
impression, separately published, i.e. never bound, very lightly folded
at the centre, some original colouring to the boundaries. The cartouche
is especially illustrative of the county, showing hop growing, ship building,
naval paraphernalia, and fishing.
From the Large English Atlas, the best county atlas of the 18th
century, with maps by by Emanuel Bowen, Thomas Bowen and one, Middlesex, by R.W. Seale. In 1749 the original plan was
to publish one map each month until the series was completed, but this
proved to be too ambitious and the 45 maps were not completed until 1760.
It is interesting that there were no geographical changes to the maps
during their long publication period; the only changes were to the publisher’s
imprints beneath the bottom border. Usually the title cartouches illustrate
the produce and industry of the county. Each is packed with notes of
local interest.
Some minor stains in the margins, and a small area of woodworm holes,
otherwise fine.
51.5 x 69cm. Wide margins extra.
£700
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 HASTED,
Edward. [Kent] A Map of the Hundred of Boughton Blean,
the Liberty of Seasalter, the Liberty of the Ville of Dunkirk,
antienty the King's Forest of Blean.
Hasted's maps vary in scale. This in one of the largest. Two miles =
95mm or nearly 2 inches to the mile. The miles are marked along the London
to Canterbury road.
Very good clean condition, shaved to border at foot and neatly re-margined.
Image size: 42 x 37.5cm.
£
100
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 HASTED,
Edward.
[Kent] A Map of the Hundreds of Westgate, Whitstable, Blengate, and Preston.
Scale of Two Miles = 70mm or about 1½ inches to one mile.
Similar condition to the above, again with margin shaved, this time at
right side, and the outer border drawn in.
Image size: 37 x 48cm.
£ 100
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 Lincolnshire
The Countie and Citie of Lyncolne Described...
1614 edition, one of the few that does not have a publisher's imprint.
Plan of Lincoln.
Fine, uncoloured impression. Small area of paper loss at the foot
of centre fold, repaired and drawn in; repaired tear on left and right
sides.
£400 |
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 Middlesex
Midle-Sex described with the most famous Cities of London and Westminster. Described by Iohn Norden. Augme[n]ted by I. Speed Solde by Thomas Bassett in Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell in St Pauls Churchyard. Jodocus Hondius Cum Privilegio Anno 1610.
Scale 6 = 3 ¾ inches, 70mm. Illustrated With dividers and compass
Plan of Westminster, with arms and compass, no scale.
Plan of London, with arms, compass and scale of paces: 480 = 1 ¼ inches, 34mm. Saint Peters (Westminster)
Saint Pauls. Above the buildings is a description on the pages of an open book.
The edition of 1676. The date of 1610 on the map is the original date of engraving. A good, well printed impression. Well coloured at a later date.
385 x 510mm.
£1800
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Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire described with ye citie and the Armes of the Colleges of ye famous Vniuersity. Ao 1605.Performed by John Speede and are to besold in popes head alley against the Exchange by I.S [John Sudbury] & G.H. [George Humble] Cum Priviegio.
The edition of 1627.
Panels at each side show arms of the University and of the founder, with sixteen arms of the colleges. Top left is the Royal arms. Top right is the plan of the City of Oxford with key to 28 landmarks. Beneath the plan is the coat of arms of Vere Earl of Oxford. At the bottom centre are two academics standing either side of a globe that incorporates a scale of miles.
Very good example, a clear impression. Excellent later colouring. There is a little wear at the centre fold, which has been strengthened. The margins have also been strengthened but there does not appear to be any reason for this.
380 x 520mm.
£2000
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Saxton, Christopher. Oxfordshire.
OXONIENSIS Comitatus vulgo Oxfordshyre qui pars olim Dobunorum.
Christopher Saxton descripsit, Gulielmus Hole sculp.
The edition of 1637, with the plate number added to the lower left corner.
Short repair in margin, otherwise in good condition. Good later colouring.
Image size: 270 x 290mm.
£200
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 Somerset.
Somerset_Shire Described...
Published by Sudbury and Humble, 1646.
Plan of Bath.
Early 20th century colouring. Very good condition.
£600 |
 JANSSON,
Johannes. The pre-1646 state Map of Somerset. Comitatus
Somersettensis. Somerest-Shire.
The title is within a cartouche at the top left corner. The scale is within
a simple tableau at the bottom, in the middle of the left side of the sheet.
The miles are numbered but there is no other lettering. There is no text.
The few records of the map that we have traced all have German text. Koeman,
Me 44 (13) 411, lists the map in Jansson’s edition of Mercator’s
atlas of 1636. At about the same time, Jansson’s contemporary in
Amsterdam, Blaeu, was producing his own maps of English counties, and Blaeu’s
map of Somerset was considerably more decorative than the map by Jansson,
so Jansson set about altering his map, using the same plate, but altering
all the surround. For the 1646 edition, the title is removed to the bottom
left corner, the scale to the bottom right corner, and the top left corner
is now occupied with coats of arms supported by putti. The galleons and
the compass rose positioned in St Georges Channel remain unaltered. Jansson’s
name is added to the left of the scale; it does not appear in the 1636
state. The only alteration to the map is in Devon where the name of Molland
is moved to beneath the symbol. Latin names for the cardinal points are
added to the appropriate borders. There is really so much difference between
the two states that comparisons cannot be made.
Original outline colouring to the boundaries, the rest is uncoloured. The
map is trimmed to the borders on all sides, replaced with contemporary
paper. The centre fold is repaired. The extreme corners show signs of wear,
caused by damp.
Size to outer borders: 38 x 49.5cm.
£300
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 KEERE,
Pieter van den. Suffolk. 1676.
Known as ‘Miniature Speed.” 8.5 x 12cm.
£100 |
 SAXTON,
CHRISTOPHER. Suffolcia.
Engraved by William Kip and published in the 1610 edition of Camden’s
Britannia.
Mainly good though the bottom right, the right side of the scale, has been
repaired and drawn in. There is some slight smudging of the original printer’s
ink, noticeable at the top of the map. Later hand colouring. The boundaries
of the hundreds are coloured.
27.5 x 37.5cm.
£175
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 Surrey.
Surrey Described and Divided into Hundreds
Published by Bassett & Chiswell, 1676, still dated 1610.
Views of the palaces of Richmond and Nonsuch.
Later colouring. Very good condition.
£1,200 |
 MORDEN,
Robert. Surrey.
Very good example of the first edition, 1695. Well coloured at a later
date.
35 x 42cms
£240.
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 Jansson,
Joan. Suthsexis vernacule Sussex.
Published in Amsterdam in 1646, the first edition. Highly decorative map.
The colouring is later.
38 x 50cm.
£
750 |
 Emanuel Bowen.
An Accurate Map of the County of
Sussex
Printed for Robert Sayer, Robert Wilkinson and Carington Bowles.
Published in 1785. The Sussex map was the first to be made for the series.
The cartouche does not illustrate the produce of the county, as most of
the maps in the series. It is particularly interesting because of the surveying
instruments shown, a man is using a ‘way-wiser,’ a wooden wheel
with a dial on the handle to record the distance, a system still used today
in the more sophisticated way. A cupid-like figure is using a theodolite,
but, for some reason, he has removed his clothes; such behaviour is not
a Sussex custom, and, as far as we are aware, it never was. Also it cannot
be explained why the cartouche is not clearly printed when the rest of
the map is very clear. It is as if the cartouche had more wear to it than
the rest of the plate.
The views and town plans are of Chichester and Lewes. Most of the other
counties do not show either views or plans.
There are some repaired tears to the margins.
From the Large English Atlas, the best county atlas of the 18th
century, with maps by by Emanuel Bowen, Thomas Bowen and one, Middlesex, by R.W. Seale. In 1749 the original plan was
to publish one map each month until the series was completed, but this
proved to be too ambitious and the 45 maps were not completed until 1760.
It is interesting that there were no geographical changes to the maps
during their long publication period; the only changes were to the publisher’s
imprints beneath the bottom border. Usually the title cartouches illustrate
the produce and industry of the county. Each is packed with notes of
local interest.
51 x 68.5cm. The margins are about half a centimetre.
£450
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JAMES E. EDWARDS
Rare Sussex Maps
Two untitled maps of adjoining areas of the Sussex coast. Both are orientated with north to the left of the sheet, each has a simple compass. The scale is two inches to one mile. The main roads, the buildings in towns, the sea, the River Adur, the borders and the scales are in original colour. Mileages are marked on the main roads. The maps are extremely detailed. The engraving is meticulous. Hills are hachured. The beach, forests and common lands are stippled.
Each is signed: Edwards Sculpt.
A.
Brighthelmston, Hove, Southwick, Preston, Patcham, Piecomb, Poynings, Folking, Edberton.
Published as the Act Directs 1st. Sep. 1819, by I. E. Edwards Brompton
Midx.
At the top right border is lettered and numbered T.P. IX
B.
Shoreham, Lancing, Worthing, Beeding, Steyning.
Published as the Act Directs 15th Jan. 1820 by I. E. Edwards, Brompton Observatory.
At the top right border the map is lettered and numbered T. P. VIII
The maps were published in A Companion from London to Brighthelmston
Each sheet measures to platemark approximately 285 x440mm.
Pair: £300 |
 SEBASTIAN
MUNSTER
LONDINIUM FERACIS: ANG. MET.
Woodcut. Appropriate later colour.
Strongly based on Braun and Hogenberg’s slightly earlier plan.
Published in Basle 1598. German text edition.
Printed surface measures 310 x 380mm
Howgego no. 6
£800 |
 Blome,
Richard, publisher. Engraved by Wencelaus Hollar.
London.
Title at top, within the border. Second edition, with dedication below,
to Sir Robert Vyner, alderman, knight and baronet, with his coat of arms.
At the sides and beneath the plan are 15 coats of arms of City livery
companies and the arms of the City of London. The plan extends from Limehouse
to Tothill Fields, and Stepney to St George's Fields. There is a key
to 45 numbered landmarks. The plan was included in Blome's Britannia,
dated 1673. Vyner was not elected alderman until 1667, suggesting a slightly
later publishing date.
Short repaired tear in bottom margin, just extending to printed border.
Plate size 17 x 27.5cm
£ 400 |
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JOHN OGILBY
From the first printed atlas of road maps, the 'Britannia', first published
1675.
Each measures approximately 32 x 47cms
|
 [Plate]
3. The Continuation of the Road from London to Aberistwith.
This is the third and last part of the route, beginning at Bromyard,
125 miles from London, to Leominster, Kingsland, Presteigne, Rhayader,
Aberystwyth, 199 miles from London.
1675, second issue with the number added, a very good impression, with
later colouring. The right side is slightly shaved, affecting the top of
the scroll, the left side is damaged at the extreme top corner.
£
120 |
 8.
The continuation of the Road from London to Barwick.
Begins at York, being 192 miles from London, to Boroughbridge,
Northallerton, Darlington, Durham and Chester le Street.
1675, the second issue with the number added. Good condition, good later
colouring probably by P.J. Radford.
£200
|
 10.
The Road from London to the City of Bristol.
This is the first part of the route, reaching as far as Marlborough.
Starts from Cornhill, west through Kensington, Hammersmith, Brentford,
Hounslow, Colnbrook, Maidenhead, Reading, Thatcham, Newbury, and then
the road divides, one part going to Hungerford and on to Marlborough,
which is the A4, the other part taking a northerly route to Chilton
Foliat, Ramsbury and then to Marlborough, 75 miles.
1698 edition, good impression and good later colouring. Trimmed close to
the printed border on all sides.
£230 |
 12.
The Road from London to Buckingham. Continued to Banbury.
Starts from Cornhill, to Marble Arch, Bayswater, Shepherds Bush, Acton,
Uxbridge, Amersham, Wendover, Aylesbury, Buckingham and Banbury, 78 miles.
1698 edition, a very good impression and good later colouring.
£240 |
 17.
The Continuation of ye Road from London to St. Davids.
This is the last part of the route, beginning at Briton (Burton) Ferry,
through Swansea, Llanethy, Kidewelly, Llanstaffan, Haverford West to St.
Davids.
Good margins, later colour.
£175 |
 [Plate
20.] The Road from London to Hith.
This is Hythe in Kent. From Cornhill, the route is over London
Bridge, the only bridge, East Peckham, New Cross, Eltham, Foots Cray,
Farningham, and at Kingsdown the road divides, the northern route going
to Crossley, Aylesford, and north of Maidstone, the southern route
going through Wrotham and Maidstone and then joining the northern route,
passing Leeds Castle to Ashford and Hythe.
This is a very fine first issue, before the number was added. Later colouring.
£240 |
Scotland.
Scotia Regnum. Gul: Hole sculp.
Although his name does not appear on the map, it is based on the earlier map of Gerard Mercator. The edition of 1610.
Good condition. Good later colouring.
Image size: 260 x 310mm.
£250
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