‘BEDFORDE: SHIRE’ / ‘HUNTINGDON SHIRE’ by M. Drayton / W. Hole c.1622

A very attractive and rare ‘allegorical’ map of Bedfordshire and Huntingdonshire which was engraved by William Hole and published in Michael Drayton’s Poly-Olbion (London:1622). This particular map was published only once in the third and final edition of Poly-Olbion. Michael Drayton (1563-1631) was an esteemed poet of the late Elizabethan age and close friend of William Shakespeare. In 1612 he published his opus magnum entitled ‘Poly-Olbion’ which contained a series of songs and poems praising the beauty of England & Wales. To accompany this work, a set ‘allegorical’ maps were included; rivers were represented by nymphs, hills by shepherds, forests by huntresses and cities by crowned female figures. Whilst limited cartographically, the maps epitomise both the artistic sentiment and pervading sense of national pride of that time. The maps were engraved by William Hole who is one of the earliest known English engravers. This is an original copperplate engraving. Printed area is approximately  31cms by 24.3cms. The map is in very good condition with decent margins; centrefold, as issued. There is some minor offset, staining and a “printers’ crease” in the bottom left border. Click on image for a better view. Click on ‘Delivery Policy’ for  postage costs. Guaranteed to be over 390 years old.