there is such a diverse collection of county maps to be found ranging in price from under £10 to many thousands of pounds

this page (and other old map pages on my site are not meant as a guide, but as a few examples to enhance Navigation and old map pages)

This map is from an atlas titled "england exactly Described" although the county title Barkshire is written "Berkhire" on this map.
Its by Richard Blome and was published in 1715.
Richard Blome maps are colourful and as such command prices from £100 to several hundreds

by Jan Jansson  c1646. A magnificent map by this Dutch cartographer. He produced an atlas of all the counties of England & Wales and most copies of this atlas were hand coloured by artists in Jansson's own studio (as was this map) . Each map has text verso in various languages, indicating the country to which the atlas was directed for sale. This map shows the typical decorative features found on most of his maps. The titles and linear scales are set in ornate cartouches. The arms of the colleges of Cambridge University are displayed around the map. French text verso. 520x415mm  worth around £400

John Bill
this rare map is worth around £200
and was one of the first English county maps produced in 1626
it measures just 4 1/2 x 3 1/4 inches

John Owen & Emanual Bowen
from Britannia Depicta 1730
a fairly common map priced around £40 to £50

Maps of Cornwall are often amongst the most costly to purchase as due to the shape it often has a large area of sea filled with sea monsters, galleons etc and the more decorative these are the greater the value.

by John Rocque 1769
from England displayed

This map was typical of many produced by Thomas Mule around 1850's

Each edition added a few more railways as railways covered more areas of Britain.  Some editions were produced in quite large quantities and are worth between £50 & £150 depending on the county and the age.

Coming soon

From the Master map maker John Speed, a copy of the Latin edition of this rare map from Speed's atlas "The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine"
Printed at London. Anno, cum Privilegio, 1611- [1616].
Latin text edition. Printed by Thomas Snodham and sold by John Sudbury & George Humble.

This colourful map of Essex from 1820 is worth around £ 58.
It is a detailed engraved map with explanation and list of hundreds. The map is embellished with an uncoloured vignette view of Colchester Castle. 10 x 6 1/2 inches, 255 x 170 mm. Original wash hand colouring. Good condition. From Langley's New County Atlas

This map is by Thomas Badeslade and WH Toms and was published in 1741, its a first edition and shows such information as market days
in the text on the left.

coming soon

Herefordshire, John Harrison, 1815
"A MAP OF HEREFORDSHIRE ENGRAVED FROM AN ACTUAL SURVEY WITH IMPROVEMENTS."
A good engraved and fairly detailed map of the county divided into hundreds.
18 x 13 inches, 460 x 326 mm. Original wash colouring. Harrison maps are uncommon and worth around £30 to £40

Hertfordshire, C. & J. Greenwood, 1834. These large maps are worth between £80 and £120 , as they rare so large condition varies a lot depending on condition.
The map is titled "MAP OF THE COUNTY OF HERTFORD FROM AN ACTUAL SURVEY MADE IN THE YEARS 1830 & 1831."
A fine detailed engraved county map embellished with a large uncoloured view of St. Alban's Abbey. Compass rose. List of hundreds, polling places and explanation. 28 x 22.75 inches. Often with original outline and wash colouring From Atlas of the Counties of England.

This map with an insert of Canterbury cathedral is one that is from "New British Atlas" and the atlas is readily available in a 1990's copy for around £15.  Each of the original counties are now worth between £50 and £100 depending on edition, condition and county. This one was published in 1845.
Many editions were made by the cartographers J Pigot & Isaac Slatter.

Ruben Rambles atlas
"Ruben Rambles Travel in England" was published in 1845 and is relatively uncommon
yet this map only fetches around £75

Another miniature map, this time by John Gibson published around 1759

more Leicestershire maps

This map is from Camdens Britannia dated 1701 and is by John Seller.  Seller produced similar maps for different atlases.

Middlesex, Joan Blaeu, 1662. This map is worth around £500, this is largely because Middlesex is a very collectable county, if it were of a Welsh County it would be worth under £200

MIDDLE-SEXIA. A fine 17th century map of the county. The title and scale are displayed in a single cartouche with a female figure of a harvester.
Royal Arms. 16 x 15 1/4 inches.
Very lightly browned all over but really a very good specimen map.

by Peter Van Der Ker
this map often called "the miniature Speed" was published in 1666 and is only about 10% of the cost and size of a genuine Speed map

more Northamptonshire maps

Nottinghamshire, Herman Moll, produced in 1724.  Worth around £60.
"NOTTINGHAMSHIRE BY H. MOLL GEOGRAPHER."
An engraved county map with title panel., list of wapentakes and scale. Above and below the map are engravings of Roman coins.  7 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches. Hand coloured.

Coming soon

Michael Drayton & William Hole
from Michael Draytons Atlas
Poly-Ibion published in 1622

The first county maps of The British Isles, were produced by Christopher Saxton in  1579.

Needless to say any surviving maps from these atlases are extremely rare, with each map worth between £2500 to £4000 depending on condition and county.

John Cary, 1789.
"SOMERSETSHIRE."
A small detailed engraved map of the county bearing the imprint of John Cary and date of 1789. 3.5 x 5 inches, 90 x 122 mm. Original outline hand colouring. Good condition. From Traveler's Companion
John Carry made many many maps with this version worth arround £15

coming soon

An old rare map by Jan Jansson, circa 1647. worth around £150, with some other counties worth much more.
The map is entitled
"SUFFOLCIA vernacula Suffolk."
It is an engraved 17th century map of the county. The central title cartouche from which is suspended a garland of nine coats of arms with putti. Scale cartouche. Compass rose and two ships. Latin text on verso. 19 x 15 inches, 500 x 380 mm. Early hand colouring. German text on verso.

This "negative" map by William Pinnock is created from a wood engraving.
It is relatively common, but as its quite dark is not commonly collected. Its worth well under £50, again depending on county.

Robert Morden, 1722. Prices for this map again vary from county to county but are around £100.
This is a good example of an engraved map embellished with a decorative title cartouche. Three scales and publisher's imprint.
16 1/4 x 13 inches, hand coloured.

coming soon

R.Creighton & C Walker, from Lewis's Topological dictionary. C. 1833
as this was produced in large quantities and is not as colourful as many county maps, most counties can be purchased for under £10

by T. Kitchin & T. Jefferys, 1749.
"A MAP OF WORCESTERSHIRE"
A small engraved map of the county with scale and compass pointer. Beneath the map is a description and list of towns with their market and fair days. 5.25 x 5.25 inches, 133 x 131 mm. Original outline hand colouring. From The Small English Atlas, and worth around £50

Another Worcestershire map on the unusual maps page

Yorkshire

by Robert Morden. 
York Sh: London, 1676, Second state.. Paper size 95 x 60. The King of Clubs but without suitmark, from Morden's geographical playing-cards, one of the first sets of county maps to show roads based on Ogilby's survey of the previous year.

A rare map (as are all the playing cards) worth between £200 to £300

more counties coming soon

 back to main Antique map menu

old Northamptonshire maps

John Speed maps

general antique map page

early old maps (pre 1650)

old maps and charts
showing mountains

unusual old maps

old atlases

If I had £1000
to spend on a map