Humfray Cole

Humfray Cole (died 1591) was an English maker of scientific instruments and engraver.

Life Cole was, according to his own description, a native of the north of England. From his employment at the mint and the general character of his work he appears to have been a mechanician. Edward Dyer acted as his patron, and he was commended as artisan by Gabriel Harvey.

For the second edition of the Bishops' Bible, published in 1572, he engraved a map of Palestine, as Canaan, thought to be based on a 1557 map by Tilemann Stella or Stoltz. On it he describes himself as "Humfray Cole, goldsmith, an Englishman born in ye north and pertayning to ye Mint in the Tower, 1572." He supplied instruments to Martin Frobisher. He was employed in engraving mathematical and astronomical instruments in brass, of which there are specimens in the British Museum. One of these is an astrolabe, at one time in the possession of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales.