This unusual map was published in Michael Drayton's Poly-Olbion, a monumental poem celebrating the history and countryside of England and Wales. The 15,000 lines of verse were divided into 30 songs, with each song describing 1-3 counties. 30 maps were included to accompany the verse and were engraved by William Hole. Unlike traditional maps that put an emphasis on geographic exactness, the maps in Drayton's work are anthropomorphic in nature and intended to reflect life at a local level. The female representing Cambridge is particularly interesting as she clutches a chalice, solar emblem, and is prolifically lactating. Other key towns and cities are identified by females with crowns of miniature buildings. A fascinating and whimsical piece of English history.

References:

Condition: B

Trimmed to just inside the neatline at top and close to the neatline at right and bottom. There is a 1.5" edge tear at right and several other tiny edge tears that have all been archivally repaired on verso.