| Method | Copper engraved |
| Artist | Whittlesey, Robert |
| Published | 1728 |
| Dimensions | 647 x 965 mm |
| Notes |
This elaborate and highly detailed plan was the first and most important derivative of the earliest map of the city by Ralph Agas in 1578, which is known from a unique example in the Bodleian Library. Essentially a direct copy of the Agas map, described in the 19th century as a bird's-flight view of Oxford, it illustrates the city's buildings and walls with parallel lines only rather than with perspective and vanishing points. It provides a fascinating snapshot of Elizabethan Oxford, depicting the extent of the city and the university at the end of the 16th century, from Osney Abbey in the west to the Plain in the east, South Gate over the Thames in the south to St. Giles church in the north. The plan is oriented with South at top, a cartographic anomaly that would continue in the mapping of Oxford for the next one hundred and fifty years. The figure of Mercury features along the bottom edge wielding a large pair of compasses next to ruler demarking perches or poles, paces, and ells. Any available blank space around the city is filled with college crests and descriptive text within elaborate cartouche boxes. Printed by E. Butler the map is dedicated to Henry, 3rd Duke of Beaufort, inscribed within a banner below his coat of arms. Surrounding the map are seventeen views of the Oxford colleges. These were taken from drawings made by John Bereblock in 1566 for the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Oxford, and were apparently much admired by the sovereign. These views were the earliest of their kind. The originals have since been lost, though a copy of them was presented to the Bodleian in 1630. Robert Whittlesey (fl. 1723-1748) Little is known about this British surveyor and engraver who is best known for his reduced engraving of Oxford from the Agas map. Condition: Printed on two sheets and joined. Light toning to sheets. Professional repairs to cracks at centre join and to splits to old vertical and horizontal folds. Small area of loss to centre right text box. Small repaired puncture to bottom left of map by River Cherwell. Laid to archival tissue support. |
| Framing | unmounted |
| Price | £3,500.00 |
| Stock ID | 52653 |