William Kip
Cornwall, 1637
12 x 15 in
30 x 38 cm
30 x 38 cm
CORN598
William Kip’s famous map is justly cited as one of the most beautiful maps of Cornwall and the third available map of the county. The 7th edition of William Camden’s...
William Kip’s famous map is justly cited as one of the most beautiful maps of Cornwall and the third available map of the county.
The 7th edition of William Camden’s “Britannia” added a set of county maps into the work for the first time in 1607. This was a major innovation and gave the work a new lease of life. It would ensure its continued publication, albeit with different maps, into the early 19th century. The source for the majority of these early maps was Christopher Saxton and his maps were reduced and expertly re-engraved by William Kip and William Hole. Many of them bear Saxton’s name as the original author. Hence they are known as Saxton Kip or Saxton Hole maps.
A further source, although not as widely used, was John Norden; he mainly provided maps of the home counties as Saxton did not publish specific maps of those; rather he issued a general map of south east England. Again, Norden’s name is usually added as a source on these maps.
The map of Cornwall is an anomaly as there is no other name apart of William Kip. A comparison to Saxton’s map of Cornwall shows several differences in the shape of the coastline and particularly in the depiction of the River Tamar, the historic border between Devon and Cornwall. However, a comparison between John Speed’s map of the county with this map shows a far closer resemblance, even including an inset of the town of Launceston on the upper left, which is also present here. Although Speed published his map in 1611, on it he cites Norden as his source, suggesting that this map by Kip is far more likely to have been based on Norden’s survey than Saxton’s. Norden’s survey of Cornwall is believed to have been issued in c.1605.
This example is from the 1637 edition of the work and the last to be issued with the Kip and Hole maps.
Coloured. [CORN598]
The 7th edition of William Camden’s “Britannia” added a set of county maps into the work for the first time in 1607. This was a major innovation and gave the work a new lease of life. It would ensure its continued publication, albeit with different maps, into the early 19th century. The source for the majority of these early maps was Christopher Saxton and his maps were reduced and expertly re-engraved by William Kip and William Hole. Many of them bear Saxton’s name as the original author. Hence they are known as Saxton Kip or Saxton Hole maps.
A further source, although not as widely used, was John Norden; he mainly provided maps of the home counties as Saxton did not publish specific maps of those; rather he issued a general map of south east England. Again, Norden’s name is usually added as a source on these maps.
The map of Cornwall is an anomaly as there is no other name apart of William Kip. A comparison to Saxton’s map of Cornwall shows several differences in the shape of the coastline and particularly in the depiction of the River Tamar, the historic border between Devon and Cornwall. However, a comparison between John Speed’s map of the county with this map shows a far closer resemblance, even including an inset of the town of Launceston on the upper left, which is also present here. Although Speed published his map in 1611, on it he cites Norden as his source, suggesting that this map by Kip is far more likely to have been based on Norden’s survey than Saxton’s. Norden’s survey of Cornwall is believed to have been issued in c.1605.
This example is from the 1637 edition of the work and the last to be issued with the Kip and Hole maps.
Coloured. [CORN598]
