A large and important map of Great Britain, Written in the second half of the 14th century
A large and important map of Great Britain, including adjacent islands and the East coast of Ireland, written and painted in the second half of the 14th century. The land is left white, the sea and rivers are green villages and towns are denoted by houses and (in the case of towns) a (red) church, a few of the names also being in red, and 'London' and York ('Eboriens") in gold. It is probably the oldest map in which distances between towns are marked. A shipwreck, a whale, etc. are depicted in the sea.
Dates
- Creation: Written in the second half of the 14th century
Extent
1 box
Language of Materials
- Latin
Shelfmark
MS. Gough Gen. Top. 16
Other Finding Aids
Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. II, no. 17610
Custodial History
In 1768 Thomas Martin exhibited the map to the Society of Antiquaries: and in the catalogue of his MSS., 1774, it is no. 405 on p. 19, and was purchased by Gough.
Bibliography
Physical Facet
On parchment, made of two sheets of parchment, in parts injured
Dimensions
22 1/8 × 46 1/2 in. in a frame 30 1/4 × 53 1/4 in.
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk