Map of Cornwall by William Kip ca.1637

A rather beautiful map of Cornwall, with inset engraving of Launceston Castle, a sea monster to the South and a splendid galleon sailing off the North coast! This map is from Camden's "Britannia", which was a detailed historical and topographical description of Britain, first published in 1586. Maps were added from 1607 and were engraved by William Kip or William Hole, based on earlier plates by Christopher Saxton from the 1570s. Usually Saxton's name is acknowledged alongside either Kip or Hole. This one refers only to Kip, although it is believed to be based on a Saxton original. Probably from the 1637 edition which included plate numbers lower left.