English Cartography Print
An english cartography print records roads, towns and shires through ink on paper, offering a tangible window into past landscapes.
English Cartography Print
When you search for an english cartography print, you encounter wall art, framed maps and atlas engravings spanning several centuries. The material here ranges from seventeenth-century county maps to Victorian town plans and Edwardian serving trays.
The seventeenth-century pieces include detailed works by cartographers such as John Speed and Joan Blaeu, often depicting shires like Hertfordshire, Surrey and Warwickshire. Eighteenth-century examples feature road maps by John Ogilby alongside county and regional engravings by Robert Morden and Thomas Kitchin.
Victorian items bring later cartography, including town plans of dockyards and lithography maps of southern environs. These pieces arrive ready to hang, set in wood and gilt wood frames behind glass.
Materials and Technique
Framing materials consist chiefly of wood and oak, occasionally finished with gold leaf or gilt wood. Protective glass covers the paper face to preserve the delicate ink and watercolour against environmental wear.
Cartographers sometimes filled empty ocean spaces with elaborate sea monsters and sailing ships to delight seventeenth-century viewers.
Judging Quality
Quality rests upon the clarity of the printed lines and the preservation of the paper over the centuries. Crisp impression marks from the original copper plates distinguish a strong strike from a worn one.
The choice of framing and the retention of original hand-colouring elevate an example. Works by prominent cartographers command attention through the precision of their topographical details and cartouches.
John Speed·Joan Blaeu·Robert Morden·Thomas Kitchin·John Cary
The English Cartography Print Glossary
- Cartography
- The science or practice of drawing maps. In these listings, it denotes engraved and printed topographical representations.
- Atlas Engraving
- A map plate originally produced for inclusion in a bound geographical atlas. These sheets were later separated for framing.
- Town Plan
- A detailed cartographic representation of an urban area or dockyard. It charts streets and buildings rather than wide shires.
- Lithography
- A planographic printing process used for later nineteenth-century maps. It relies on the antipathy of oil and water on a limestone or metal surface.
English Cartography Print: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I hang a framed map?
Hang these framed pieces on interior walls away from direct sunlight to protect the paper and ink. Use secure fixings suited to the weight of the wood and glass frame.
Ensure the wall space is dry to prevent moisture damage from seeping behind the glass over time.
Are these maps original period prints?
The inventory consists of period pieces dated from the seventeenth century through to the early twentieth century. Each listing attributes the item to its specific era, such as the Georgian or Victorian periods.
Makers and approximate dates appear in the titles to identify the historical origin of the engraving.
What is a coaching map?
A coaching map charts historical travel routes and roads between towns, designed for travellers using horse-drawn coaches. John Ogilby produced notable examples showing strip maps of roads like Exeter to Barnstable.
These pieces highlight milestones, terrain and settlements along specific historical journeys.
How do I care for antique paper?
Keep framed cartography out of humid environments and direct glare to maintain the stability of the paper. Avoid removing the backing board or altering the historic frame.
Dust the wood frame gently with a dry cloth without applying liquid cleaners near the glass edge.