This is one of the earliest printed maps of the county of Middlesex. It was first published in the sixth edition of William Camden’s ‘Britannia’ by George Bishop (fl.1562-1611) and John Norton (fl.1587-1612) in 1607. It was the first to be illustrated with county maps although this had been contemplated since at least 1589. Camden (1551-1623) was an antiquary and historian. An academic by profession he would become the headmaster of Westminster School in 1593. He spent much of his time travelling and collecting material for his highly respected ‘Britannia’. Here the engraver William Kip (fl.1598-1618) has drawn on John Norden’s map of the county published in 1593. This example is from the preferred second edition which did not have any printed text on the verso and in the second state with the addition of the compass rose. Chubb (1927) 9; Shirley (2004) T.Camd 1c; Skelton (1970) 6; Smith (2004) pp. 66-7; Taylor (1968) pp. 9-13.