An extremely rare example of the first printed plan of Exeter

The very first printed map of Exeter, engraved by Remy Hogenberg after John Hooker and published as a companion to Hooker's 'The antique description and account of the city of Exeter', written under the pseudonym 'John Vowell'. Orientated with north to the top left, it presents the plan as a bird's-eye view, with the buildings shown in perspective. Within the walls are Exeter Castle and Cathedral; in the walls themselves are the gates and forts, including 'Snayle Tower'; outside the walls are St David's, Exbridge, St Leonard's Weir (now Trews Weir), Exeter Bridewell prison, St Thomas's, Radford Place, Floyer Hayes and Shilhay (here 'The Shellye'). Top right are the arms of Elizabeth I; top left the arts of the city; and left are the arms of John Hooker, with the motto 'Life after Death'. Despite the extreme rarity of this map there are three known states: with a pair of dividers lower right; the dividers partially erased (as here); and with a compass rose instead. John Hooker (c.1527-1601) was a historian who held several positions if Exeter, including MP, Chamberlain, Recorder and Coroner. Remy (Remigius) Hogenberg (1536-89), brother of Frans Hogenberg, was born in Mechelen in Belgium but arrived in London c.1572, remaining in England until his death. He engraved the frontispiece portrait of Elizabeth I and nine maps for Chrisopher Saxton's atlas, the first of English counties. A copy of his plan of Exeter was used on the John Speed map of Devon and in the Georg Braun & Frans Hogenberg 'Civitatis Orbis Terrarum' atlas of townplans from 1617, after the deaths of both brothers.