Great Britain – Speed

Speed, John: The Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland.

Sudbury & Humble London c1610

copper engraved map with original hand colouring; overall 40 x 53 cm, plate 38,5 x 51,5 cm. fold as issued; browned; marginal repaired tears; c’fold strengthened; remnants of old framing tape; dustline around maps; o/w good cond.

Iconic map of the British Islands by John Speed with insets of views of London and Edinburgh, the Orkney Islands, the Royal coat-of-Arms, 2 cameos and a vignette with mile scales, surrounded by putti and geographical instruments as well as various sailing ships and sea monsters.. Engraved by Jodocus Hondius. Based on Saxton’s map of England and Wales, Hondius’  Ireland and Mercator’s Scotland. With English text on verso. Published in Speed’s ‘Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine’.