1934 Cecily Peele Map of Oxford and Some Of Her Worthies - Hand Painted In Colour 1948

This is an example of the rare collectible map of Oxford, first drawn an published by Cecily Peele in 1934. The print date of this particular example is unknown. The map has notable places picked out in illustrations and is surrounded with city and college coats of arms down the sides and drawings of scholars and other worthies from Oxford’s history.

Uncoloured versions were printed and can occasionally be seen on sale elsewhere. Individually hand coloured versions such as this are also seen from time to time at auction, each one is of course unique.

This particular one has been signed and dated 1948 by the colourist. The forename is a little indistinct and the surname is Colthup. Some of the shields have reflective metallic paint.

The sheet measures 509 x 468mm. It is blank on the reverse.

It is in excellent undamaged condition.

It will be posted, fully insured, fully protected completely flat.

The original 1948 frame is available free if collected in person. It is in very good condition and complements the map well. (photo to be added shortly). However it is too large to post safely with the glass. If you would like the frame without the glass please ask about extra shipping costs prior to purchase.

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More details about the map and artist.

A decorative mid-twentieth century caricature map of Oxford, with numerous notes and representations of the history of the City and University. On either side, the map is bordered by the crests of the Colleges, from Univ to the unusual chameleon crest of the Society of Home Students, the forerunner to St Anne's College. Above and below, the map features a long procession of 'Oxford Worthies,' from a Stone Age Man in top left to Lord Nuffield at bottom right, and including a host of famous faces, including, among others, Roger Bacon, Henry VIII, Walter Raleigh, Christopher Wren, Wesley, Shelley, Lewis Carroll and Alice, William Morris, and Lawrence of Arabia. A boxed key in the bottom right lists the colleges, while events and objects of note are included around the city, including the snakes head fritillary, the 'Oxford Dinosaur,' a mammoth, Chaucer and his fellow pilgrims, sportsmen in the University Parks, and the enigmatic 'Scholar Gypsy' on the banks of the Isis. The map's title is supported by Saint Frideswide and Saint Scholastica.

Beatrice Cecilia Peele (1892-1984), usually signing her work as Cecily Peele or BCP, was a British caricaturist, mapmaker, stationer, and illustrator. In 1922 she opened the Alley Workshops on St Giles, Oxford, an emporium of gifts, stationary, toys, and handicrafts aimed predominantly at the University's growing number of female students. While at the Alley Workshops, she designed and published a number of caricatures, cards, and maps, including a caricature Map of Oxford's History with some of her Worthies, as well as a similar smaller scale example focussing on the City's scientific achievements for the British Medical Association. In addition to this, she was also the writer and illustrator of The Encyclopedia of British Bogies, a book of creatures from British folklore.