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question. For it must be remembered that it is rot alone to be approached 

 from the side of geography and history. There is the important question of 

 hand\9Titing, and there is also much matter for study in the grotesque repre- 

 sentations of men and animals with which it is illustr.ited Thtse are of the 

 class which prevails in our early manuscripts and printed books, and since they 

 bear about the same relation— partly fabulous and partly speculative— to natural 

 history as the chart itself does to geography, there is considerable fitness in the 

 introduction of the subject to the Woolhope Club. 



From my own experience of the different methods of reproducing 

 drawings, I am of opinion that the work should be done by an eminent litho- 

 grapher, who would be able to produce almost the exact appearance which it had 

 when it was newly drawn upon the vellum. A photographic copy, though more 

 picturesque, would be of much less practical utility. T should also say that 

 Mons. D'Avezac is engaged upon a work on the ancient mappe-monds, I believe 

 "A treatise on the History of Geography in the Middle Ages," taking the 

 Hereford map as his leading example. Mr. Thomas Wright, whose studies of 

 the grotesque elements in Jlediaeval art are well known, is also preparing a 

 notice of the map in that particular point of view. No doubt other enquirers 

 will have something to say about it if we can furnish them with the means 

 of study. 



I have been induced to bring this statement before the Club in the hope 

 that a sufficient amount of interest may be caused in the subject so that the 

 offers so liberally made at our last annual meeting may find a fitting response. 



The Rev. F. Havergal remarked that he was glad to see this subject 

 brought before the members of the Woolhope Club. .As this map is unques- 

 tionably one of the most remarkable productions of the middle ages, he thought 

 that its importance could not easily be estimated too highly. Having taken a 

 practical interest in it for the past fifteen years, both as to its restoration in 

 1855, and as to its being placed in a position at all times accessible to visitors 

 since 1862, he had also endeavoured to decipher its contents and trace its former 

 history. Their production of this map in the best stj'le would, he felt sure, be 

 extensively supported by geographers, antiquarians, and other literary persons. 

 He quite agi-eed with Mr. Blashill, that although the reproduction could be 

 accomplished by photography, yet the result would be far more satisfactory by 

 lithography. Two years at least would be required for this work, and a subscrip- 

 tion list of not less than one hundred guineas must be first procured. He 

 had laid the subject before the Dean and Chapter, who readily gave their 

 consent to the proposal. He would also be happy to obtain the best advice on 

 the subject, and lay the result before the members of this Club on some future 

 occasion. The only copy of the map was made in 1831. This is now in the 

 possession of the Royal Geographical Society, but is far from being trustworthy. 

 A small portion of the map was also published about 20 years ago. No other 

 attempt has been made to reproduce this most important map in the manner 



