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Gentleman's Magazine 1814 part 1 p.3

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Playing Card Maps

Tredrea, Jan. 14.
MR. URBAN,
HAVING recently seen two Packs of Cards, which appear to me curious specimens of the Times of old, I am persuaded that a short description of each will not be unacceptable to your Readers; as the first exhibits a plan for uniting instruction with amusement, invented long before such contrivances are supposed to have been in use; and as the second discloses a singular method of exciting Party zeal, practised on a very extraordinary occasion. These cards have long been preserved in the respectable family of the late Mr. Hodson, a gentleman farmer of Sussex.
The first pack bears the date 1590. The cards are charged with Maps of the fifty-two Counties of England and Wales, arranged in four series of thirteen each, distinguished by North, South, East, and West. The Counties follow in each division, according to their estimated magnitudes, No.1. being the least. Within a square occupying the middle of each Card, is delineated the County; the Number is placed in a corner, both above and below: in the other upper corner stands a Compass; and in the lower one a Scale of Miles. Over the square and below it are four lines descriptive of the County. For example:

'Sussex the 10th of the South, hath miles
in Quantite sup'ficiall 900, in Circuite 172,
In Lengthe from Hamshire unto Kent 68,
In Bredth from Surrey to ye Brittaine Sea 25.'

'Sussex plesaunt pastures and dow'es full of Sheep,
Store of Wood, Rivers, and Vaynes of Yron,
Havinge the Narrow Sea East, Hantshire West,
Surrey and Kent North, and the Britt. Sea South.'
As another instance:

'Cornwall the 8th of the South hath Miles
In Quatite sup'ficiall 837, in Circuite 262,
In Lengthe from Denshire to the Brittaine Sea 66,
In Bredth from the Seaverne to the Sea 40.'

'Cornwall ye sea-coste full of tow'es well shipped,
Full of Mettal, especialli Tynne, which serveth all Europe;
Having Denshire East, the Maine Sea West,
The Irishe Sea North, and the Brittaine Sea South.'
There are with the Pack eight additional Cards; but these are stated, in a little accompanying book, to be intended for ornamenting two boxes that may be made to hold the Cards themsleves and also some counters, which, however, are not preserved. One has a general Map of England; another a Portrait of Queen Elizabeth; a third contains a Plan of London; a fourth, Arms, &c; the two others are filled with short accounts of the History and Constitution of the Country.
The Author, in his little book which is very imperfect, pays many compliments to the Inventor of Com-
mon
These are the playing card maps by William Bowes, probably engraved by Augustine Ryther, issued 1590.
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