Words that send a shiver down the back of a dedicated collector of antique county maps. Someone who has by some means managed to find one of the more obscure types of antiques. I know of many who never thought or knew that antique maps actually existed to collect but on doing so were so delighted that it is still possible to buy original specimens dating back to the late 16th century. Forget reproductions of these truly remarkable works of art when you can buy the originals at reasonable prices. The reproductions will never have any value other than wall decoration. With an original map you are holding a real piece of history engraved by a craftsman, printed with early ink on paper which has a history of its own. The reproductions will have little or no resale value. Original maps can increase in value over time but I would nevert give this as a reason to collect them. If you catch the bug collect them so you can enjoy their history, creation and the storys they could tell of their previous custodians in times long gone by.

Counties were started in the Anglo-Saxon period of kingdoms when the name shire, coming from the Old English word scir meaning a division or district. A way to organize the law, calling men to miltary service and taxation. The Normans later kept the shire system royal administration and Sheriffs were appointed by the King. The Domesday Book shows the ownership of land in each county. The counties were later subdivided onto hundreds and you will find many county maps you are able to collect show the hundreds along with a list of them in a blank area of the map. In counties in the north of England you will find the word hundreds has been replaced with wapontakes.

The pages on this additional section of www.antiquemaps.com are for new collectors or for those persons who are not aware of the wealth of original old maps that there is to collect. It is not intended to be a reference work but more of a simple place to get to know about the enjoyment of collecting maps of the the British Isles counties. I shall list roughly in date order some of the cartographers to keep a look out for when building your collection of British County Maps. I will keep returning to this guide to add more information so please check occasionally. One advantage I have with the internet site opposed to a printed book is the number of images I will be able to provide plus the ability to continually update and add information.

There are some awesome reference books on antique maps which I have used to assist me which include the following:

Antique Maps of Cornwall and the Scilly Isles. R. C. E. Quixley and J. M. E. Quixley. Published in 2018. The amazing information on mapmakers can be used to related any county.
Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers. A set of four volumes published by Map Collector Publications and later by Early World Press. Any name in early cartography you will find here with information.

Many cartographers did not include individual Welsh county maps in their atlases. Wales was usually covered by a map of the whole country or a map of North Wales and another of South Wales. Monmouthshire is not always classed as being in Wales so very often an atlas includes a map of Monmouthshire but no other Welsh county maps.

The range of county maps to collect is much smaller than England as many cartographers only illustrated Scotland by a map of the country or a map of the North and another of the South. The same goes for Ireland although some cartographers published maps of the Provinces as well as maps of the individual Counties.

Most county atlases include a map of the British Isles. In some cases this can be supplemented by maps of England and Wales, Saxon England and Roman Britain. And then there are the wonderful selection of maps of each county.

I have divided this guide into four sections to cover the following periods