Antique Hobson Fox Hunting Map of Gloucestershire, Beaufort Hunt, circa 1870

About this sheet

Engraved by J. and C. Walker for Hobson's Fox-Hunting Atlas circa 1870, this antique fox hunting map of Gloucestershire lays six hunt countries over the county in hand color. "Ledbury Mr Giles" appears in yellow across the far north-west toward the Herefordshire border; Earl Fitzhardinge's country in yellow through the center-west of the Vale; Berkeley in pink along the Severn in the south-west; Heythrop in yellow in the north-east toward Oxfordshire; the Duke of Beaufort's country, the largest on the sheet, in pink across the whole southern half from the Cotswold escarpment to the Bristol Avon; and the Vale of White Horse in blue in the south-east corner where the county borders Wiltshire. The neighboring Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Old Berkshire hunts are lettered along the northern and eastern edges where their territories run over the county line.

The Cotswold escarpment is rendered in careful hachure running north-east to south-west, the Severn is drawn broad and blue past Gloucester, and small inset panels at lower right show the parts of Gloucestershire locally situated in Warwickshire. A reference table for the hundreds occupies the lower center, with the cartouche and compass star at upper left.

The atlas was compiled by William Colling Hobson, with maps engraved by John and Charles Walker, the London firm of J. and C. Walker, and published by Longman and Company of Paternoster Row. First issued around 1850 and reissued into the 1870s, Hobson's Fox-Hunting Atlas maps every county of England and the three Ridings of Yorkshire. This sheet belongs to the edition of circa 1870 and is a steel engraving, its hunt boundaries in original hand color, applied in outline. This is one of the more densely subdivided sheets in the series, recording a county that supported some of the best-known hunting establishments in England, the Duke of Beaufort's own pack chief among them.

An original atlas sheet, suitable for framing, this antique fox hunting map of Gloucestershire will appeal to hunting families, to collectors of the county and to anyone with a connection to the place.

The sheet is in good condition for its age, with age toning, stronger towards the edges, a central fold and a few small spots in the margins. Please review the images for further condition details.

This is an original antique map, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed. Any framed or interior images are shown for presentation and inspiration only, unless the listing explicitly states that the item is sold framed.