Antique Hobson Map of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Hambledon Hunt, circa 1870

About this sheet

This antique fox hunting map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, engraved by J. and C. Walker for Hobson's Fox-Hunting Atlas circa 1870, depicts one of the most finely subdivided counties in the atlas. Craven runs in orange along the northern border toward Hungerford; South Berkshire in pink in the far north-east corner; Vine in green through the center-north around Basingstoke; Mr T. A. Smith's country in blue in the north-west toward Salisbury; Hursley in pink in the center; Hampshire itself, lettered in blue, across a broad central belt; Hambledon in yellow through the east toward Petersfield; Colonel Wyndham's country in blue in the south-east corner; and the New Forest, marked with its initials in green, across the whole south-west down to the Dorset border, with Charborough's country lettered at the extreme south-west corner. The Isle of Wight, beyond the Solent and Spithead, carries no hunting color of its own.

Southampton Water and Portsmouth Harbour are drawn in fine detail at the foot of the map, and the New Forest's open heath is shown without the dense hachuring used for hill country elsewhere. An extensive reference table at lower left keys the divisions, hundreds and liberties established at the Quarter Sessions, continued at lower right with the Isle of Wight's own places of election.

Hobson's Fox-Hunting Atlas, compiled by William Colling Hobson and published by Longman and Company of Paternoster Row, London, first appeared around 1850 and was reissued into the 1870s; this sheet is from the edition of circa 1870. The plates were steel engraved by J. and C. Walker, and the boundaries of the hunt countries were added in original hand color, in outline, with the places of meeting of the foxhounds marked alongside roads, railways, canals and parks. Several of the Hampshire countries are private packs named for their masters, Mr T. A. Smith and Colonel Wyndham among them.

For hunting families, county collectors and anyone with a connection to the place, this antique fox hunting map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is an original atlas sheet, well suited to framing.

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.