1675 John Ogilby Britannia Original Map Anglesey Island plus Kent Route Strip Map Plates 49 50 Coloured

This is an original antique map leaf from John Ogilby’s important 1675 road atlas Britannia. It is not a reproduction. This sheet includes plates 49 and 50 and contains both a detailed county map of Anglesey Island and strip-road maps of the route through Kent including Hythe, Ashford and Lenham.

The front of the sheet displays the ornate engraved title The Road from London to Holy-Head with a table of towns and distances. Beneath this is the county map Mona, now called Anglesey Island showing towns, rivers, hills and roads along with the Irish Sea coastline. The colouring appears printed or applied later and is not original seventeenth century hand colouring. A block of descriptive text about Anglesey appears below the map.

The reverse side contains engraved strip-maps laid out in narrow vertical panels showing the route through Kent with mile figures, compass roses, churches, hills and small settlements. Towns shown include Hythe, Ashford, Lenham and surrounding villages. A decorative heraldic cartouche displays the Arms of Hith. A long engraved description at the foot provides further historical information.

John Ogilby’s Britannia, published in 1675, was the first true road atlas of Great Britain and established the one inch to one mile scale used in later mapping. The copperplate engraving on this sheet is clear and well preserved. Some age toning, stains and small marks are present, consistent with an authentic seventeenth century map.

This is a genuine and highly collectible piece of early British cartography.

John Ogilby

Ogilby map

Britannia 1675

Anglesey map

Mona map

Holyhead road

Kent map

Hythe map

Ashford map

Lenham map

Antique map

Original engraved map

Strip road map

Seventeenth century map

Copperplate engraving

Historic UK map

British cartography

Early road atlas

Collectible antique map

Ogilby plate 49

Ogilby plate 50

Period map

Old England map