LANGDON AND WILCOCKE. THREE MANUSCRIPT MAPS OF OVERTON, HAMPSHIRE, 1615

i. '"The description of the Downe and parcelles of wood decayed lieinge in Polamton…in the parishe of Overton… drawne in June Ano dni ibis by Thomas Langdon and Henry Wilcocke", 462 x 642mm., illuminated with a Coat of Arms depicting the keys of St Peter crossed with St Paul's sword and a pelican (all features of the arms of Corpus Christi College, Oxford), and compass roseii. "The description of certaine lands in the tithing of Polamton and Quidhmton in the parishe of Overton and in the Countie of Southampton. belonging to the president and schollors of Corpus Christi Colledge Oxon…", 460 x 643mm., with coloured compass roseiii. Three maps on one sheet, comprising "The description of certeine arable groundes lieinge in Ravenhill Northe Ravenfield and in the northe parte of Sheephouse fielde in the tithing of Southampton in the parishe of Overton…"; "The description of certeine parcelles of arable lande called the breache lieinge in the Southe Fielde of Southamton…"; and "The description of certeine arable lands lieinge in the weste fielde of Southamton…", 465 x 644mm., cardinal points added to border, small holes to centre margin Together 3 double-page manuscript maps on vellum, with centre fold, each with elaborate cartouches, borders and embellishments in ink and colours, some heightening in gold

Commissioned by Corpus Christi College, Oxford in the early seventeenth century; transferred with the sale of the land to the Portal family in the mid-nineteenth century; thence by family descent

Waight, Stan. "The Hampshire lands of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and their management 1500-1650", Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society, vol. 51, 1995, pp. 167-185; [Idem] "Composite Freehold Estates of the postmedieval period in Hampshire", Hampshire Field Club & Archaeological Society. vol. 56, 2001, pp. 229-245

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FINE AND DECORATIVE EARLY SEVENTEENTH CENTURY ESTATE MAPS, COMMISSIONED BY CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD, ORIGINALLY FORMING PART OF THE "LANGDON MAPS". Following a lawsuit over Corpus Christi's land in Kent, Thomas Langdon was commissioned to produce a set of surveys and maps of the college’s land, and was assisted by Henry Wilcocke in 1615 and 1616. The maps are particularly fine in their execution with elaborate coloured cartouches surrounding titles and scalebars. The decoration is both naturalistic (fruit, flowers, insects etc.) and ornamental (ribbons, tassels, patterns), and displays a considerable amount of detail about field patterns, roads, college and other tenants, and buildings. The maps have clearly been used for practical purposes since they were first drawn, as many include later pencil annotations. 

"They contain a wealth of finely-drawn detail, and their accuracy compares very well with those of the tithe commutation exercise and the 6” Ordnance Survey series drawn over 200 years later" (Waight).