Morden’s Map of Northamptonshire

Robert Morden's map of Northumberland was engraved to illustrate Gibson's edition of William Camden's Britannia, first published in 1695 and reprinted in various eighteenth century editions.

Camden was an Elizabethan historian who wrote a county by county description of England. An illustrated edition of his work with maps by Kip and Hole was published in 1607, but by the late seventeenth century it had become scarce and expensive.

Gibson completely revised the text and commissioned new maps from Morden, which are known for their clarity and elegance. The latest research on Morden himself (see Worms and Baynton-Williams, British Map engravers) suggests that he may have come form the north of England, possibly Yorkshire. He was part of Robert Hooke's circle, taking coffee with him at Garraway's and Mann's, and Samuel Pepys was among his customers.

Condition & Materials

Copper engraving, 36 x 42 cm, recent hand-colour, a couple of trivial spots in the cartouche, blank verso.