Romney Marsh is an area of marshland on the border of Kent and East Sussex. It was historically one of the few areas of this country where malaria was endemic until the 1730s. In 1617 Mathew Poker produced a manuscript map of the region which survives today in the Maidstone Museum. The National Maritime Museum (G223:2/13) also possess one which is believed to be a later manuscript copy by Elhanan Tucker of Tenterden, Kent. This near full size printed copy of the manuscript shows the coast from Rye to Hythe and is oriented with west to the top as in the original. It is the work of James Cole engraver and map seller of Hatton Garden, London, from the mid 1720s to the mid 1740s. Every waterway, dam, building and road is shown in great detail. The coastal beacons and piers are also marked. Upper right is a ‘Description’ of Romney Marsh as written by Poker in 1617 with notes on sewers and waterways. This is a superb full early wash coloured example of the second state of three. This is identified by the addition of a dedication to the various landed gentry owning land in the region. There is only one recorded example of the first state in New Hall, Dymchurch at the Society of Antiquaries and this is the ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE of the second state. Eight examples are known of the third and last state. Provenance: private collection of Dr William F. Cock; Calcutt, Maclean & Standen, Lydd, Kent, auction 22 September 2003 lot 308; private English collection. Cock, Dr. William F. (1914) ‘The Oldest Map of Romney Marsh’, in ‘Archaeologia Cantiana’ vol. 30 pp. 219-24.