This year's Aardvark Books exhibition of Maps and Prints, which opens at 11am on Saturday in Brampton Bryan, contains many rare and important maps of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Radnorshire, together with fine 18th and 19th century views of the significant houses from the counties.

‘Maps and Mansions’ compares work by key map makers across all three counties, and for the first time Aardvark will be showing the Johannes Blaeu maps of Shropshire, Herefordshire and Radnorshire at the same time. There will also be an opportunity to see rare first editions of Hole’s early 17th century maps made to accompany The Poly-Olbion, written by Shakespeare’s friend Michael Drayton.

There are numerous examples of Ogilby maps from the area), a rare first edition Speed of Herefordshire, fine examples of the large Blome maps of Herefordshire and Shropshire, and maps by Janssen, Harrison, Cary and Bowen.

The exhibition also includes an early example of the Humphrey Llwyd map of Wales from 1574, a year after its original publication, which has very early – possibly contemporary – colouring.

Amongst the highlights of the exhibition is a folio sized album of prints and sketches put together by 19th century Shropshire MP Stanley Leighton as an aide memoire when he was preparing his magisterial Shropshire Houses.

For further information contact Sarah Swinson at Aardvark Books on 01547 530744 or email aardvaark@btconnect.com