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Chesshyre

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Michael Drayton (1563-1631) was an English poet who composed the "Poly-Olbion". This was illustrated with one of the most unusual series of county maps ever published, of which this map of Cheshire is a whimsical example. The "Poly-Olbion" was a series of poems, or songs, extolling the beauties of the English and Welsh countryside, and was first published in 1612. William Hole, who also engraved maps for Camden's "Britannia", was commissioned to provide the maps to illustrate these songs. Drayton states that each map is "lively delineating ... every mountaine, forrest, river and valley; expressing in their sundry pastures; their loves, delights and naturall situations". Thus, it was clearly the intention to produce allegorical maps showing the natural topographical features of the county. As such very few towns or cities are shown on the maps. Each feature is accompanied by an allegorical figure - hills are shown with shepherds, rivers with water nymphs, islands with goddesses, towns with female figures wearing mural crowns, or crowns alone are used to denote London and royal palaces. Minor restoration to the margins.

region: Cheshire

mapmaker: M.Drayton

place and date of publication: London 1612 -

medium and colour: copperplate, Uncoloured
size in cms: 32 x 25

ref: 35726

Price: £ 720

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Cheshire by J.Harrison price: £ 180	Chester by G.Cole / J.Roper price: £ 120	Map Of The County Palatine Of Chester by C. & J.Greenwood price: £ 280
The Road From London To Pool [Plate 97] by J.Ogilby price: £ 240	The Lanhydrock Atlas. A Complete Reproduction Of The 17th-Century Cornish Estate Maps Holden, Paul, Peter Herring and Oliver J. Padel price: £ 95	Collecting Antique Maps - A New Edition With Price Guide An Introduction To Cartography by Potter, Jonathan price: £ 20

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Chesshyre

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