John SpeedBiblio.com
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1676ref. LTH20-A-5London: Thomas Bassett; Richard Chiswell 1676. Leather. Good. 17.5" by 13". None. A collection of leaves from the highly sought after geographical work; The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain. Complete with the maps this is around £100000. Containing; the original title page in both red and black printing two dedication pages "To the Right Honourable Sir Joseph Sheldon" and "To the Most High and Most Potent Monarch James" three leaves of the preface three leaves of poetical works the "Contents of the Chorographical Part The First Book" through to the contents of "The King's Dominions Abroad" the title page to "The Second Book: Containing the Principality of Wales" page 97 and 98 of this work five leaves of road branch diagrams the title page to "The Third Book: Containing a General View of the Kingdom of Scotland" page 129 of this work the title page to "The Fourth Book: Containing the Kingdom of Ireland" page 135 of this work the title page to "A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World" and the complete Index. Rebacked in a full contemporary calf binding with the original calf boards. Externally a trifle rubbed with wear to the extremities and minor cocking to the spine. Both hinges are tender. Internally binding is a little strained in places with some leaves working loose. Work is seriously incomplete with what is present listed above. Some scattered spotting and handling marks. Good Thomas Bassett; Richard Chiswell hardcover
1665ref. 1785London: to be solde by Roger Rea ye Elder and younger at ye Golden Crosse in Cornhill against the Exchange 1665. 410 by 550mm. 16.25 by 21.75 inches. Double-page engraved map upper left and right margins skilfully repaired margins reinforced with japan paper. The map bears the imprint of Roger Rea the Elder and Younger. The Reas had purchased the rights to Speed's work from William Garrett in 1659 who had previously purchased them from the widow of William Humble in the same year. Skelton suggests that the father and son intended a new edition of the atlas for the Restoration of 1660. However the atlas would appear not to have been published until 1665. This is borne out by an advertisement in the Term Catalogue by the subsequent owners of the plates Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell in 1675: "Mr John Speed's. Geography of the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland. together with his Prospect. all in one entire Volume hath been for seven Years past out of Print the greatest part of an Impression then newly Printed being destroyed by the late dreadful Fire 1666". This is borne out by the rarity of the Rea edition of the atlas. There is evidence that they planned an edition of 1666 as there are impressions of Sussex Buckingham and Derby with Rea's imprint which bear that date. Rea would later sell the plates to Bassett and Chiswell who would publish a new edition in 1676. to be solde by Roger Rea ye Elder and younger at ye Golden Crosse in Cornhill against the Exchange, unknown
1651ref. M8291London: Tho: Basset; Richard Chiswell c. 1651. Very Good. Notes: StolenHighly decorative map of the Roman Empire. Includes illustrations of ships and sea monsters as well as various animals placed in their native lands. Includes a decorative cartouche on the upper right side and a brief historical description of the history of the Roman Empire at the bottom of the map. Illustrations of Rome Geneva Jerusalem Venice Constantinople and Alexandria as well as various native people in costumes are placed around the map. Size : 391x509 mm 15.40x20.05 Inches Coloring: Original Hand Coloring Category: Maps Mediterranean Sea; Maps Asia Near East Turkey; Maps Europe Continent; Maps Africa Continent; Tho: Basset; Richard Chiswell unknown
1610ref. M9855London c.1610. Very Good. Notes: John Speed's map of Leinster county; also with an early plan of Dublin. Size : 382x511 mm 15.04x20.12 Inches Coloring: Original Hand Coloring Category: Maps Europe Ireland; unknown
ref. 41599LONDON JOHN DAWSON FOR GEORGE HUMBLE 1632. .THEIR ORIGINALS MANNERS HABITS WARRES COINES AND SEALS; WITH SUCCESSIONS LIVES ACTS AND ISSUES WITH THE ENGLISH MONARCH. THIRD EDITION. QUARTO ENGRAVED FRONTIS. 1232 PAGES WITH SUMMARY AND INDEX MANY WOODCUTS OF ARMS COINS AND PORTRAITS. SOMETIME REBOUND IN HALF LEATHER OVER MARBLED BOARDS NEW ENDPAPERS RAISED BANDS GILT TITLES. THE TITLE AND FRONTIS. HAVE BEEN REMOUNTED WITH SOME LOSS TO THE EDGES. WEAKNESS TO FRONT HINGE BUT A REMARKABLY GOOD HANDSOME COPY VERY CLEAN. LONDON, JOHN DAWSON FOR GEORGE HUMBLE, 1632 hardcover
ref. 9885London: Thomas Snodham for John Sudburie and George Humble and are to be sold in Popes-head Palace. 1615. No binding. Good. 495 x 745 mm. early outline and wash colour with pasted descriptive text to three sides slight loss to the upper left hand corner otherwise in good condition. An exceedingly rare John Speed map in broadsheet format i.e. with descriptive text pasted around the map. This 'edition' is little understood and requires further study not having been worked on since Skelton in the 1960s. The 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine' by John Speed is arguably the second most important English county atlas ever printed and quite probably the most famous. It is the earliest published atlas of the entire British Isles. The first edition was long in preparation. The engraving of the maps is the work of Jodocus Hondius 1563-1612 thirty-three of them bear his signature including this one. Needing to find a competent engraver the publisher George Humble had turned to the ever present Dutch and in May 1606 was in Amsterdam. He may well have carried a letter from Camden to Hondius dated 27 April 1606 which recommends Speed's work to his care. On 12 May a notarial act records the contract between Humble Jodocus Hondius and Cornelis Claesz. The dates on many of the proof maps surviving are given as 160'_' suggesting an earlier completion than occurred. Indeed the date 1608 is suggested by the granting on 29 April that year to Humble of a royal privilege for 21 years. The cause for the delay in publication is unclear but may have been due to the death of Claesz in May 1609. Hondius was executor of the will and no doubt the whole process caused delays. Hondius was also suffering his age and died in 1612. The engraving was completed by 1610 a date which appears on 54 of the maps. The general title page of the 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine' is dated 1611 but 1612 appears in the imprint of the Third and Fourth books. The final work was printed by William Hall and John Beale for John Sudbury and George Humble. The work was clearly successful as within a short space of time a further edition was envisaged. It was to be the work of the printer William Hall however his death in 1614 left the project incomplete. It was completed by Thomas Snodham fl.1603-25 a printer 'at St. Botolph's without Aldersgate'. The text was entirely reset and finally published in 1616 the date appearing on the titles to the second third and fourth parts. Two separate sets of text survive differentiated by the separate colophon that each contains. That for the map of England reads 'Printed at London by William Hall for John Sudburie and George Humble' with the date unfortunately being defective. All the others bear Snodham's name in place of that of Hall's and the date 1615. The British Library set C.175.i.19 lacks any accompanying maps. The second example is found at the Bodleian Library C.17.b.1 and is with the text pasted around the maps as here. However it contains some maps in a later state which are found in examples of the regular format of the atlas dated to 1623. Whittaker's study of the maps of Northamptonshire does not identify any differences to this plate. Skelton suggests that 'the text is accurately printed and the line-endings correspond to those of the 161416 edition. It appears probable that the text was imposed in the form exemplified in the B.M. British Library and Bodleian copies for pasting round the edges of each map for sale or display as a sheet or broadside; for this practice there are contemporary analogies'. The text itself is largely derived from that of William Camden's 'Britannia'. The map contains two significant town plans of Northampton and Peterborough. The draft manuscripts for many of these reside at Merton College Oxford. Examples of the county maps with text pasted to the verso do appear the last known to me being in 2010. However examples with the text pasted in broadsheet format are excessively rare. We acquired Sussex in a smaller auction in the 1970' Thomas Snodham for John Sudburie and George Humble, and are to be sold in Popes-head Palace. 1615 unknown
ref. 11256London: John Sudbury and George Humble. 1612. No binding. Very Good. FIRST EDITION IN FULL EARLY WASH COLOUR. 380 x 510 mm. full early wash colour small paper crease upper right corner otherwise in very good condition. A very rare example of John Speed's map of the county of Wiltshire in its first issue in full original wash colour. The map is derived from that published by Christopher Saxton in 1576 and enhanced by the addition of boundaries 'the Shires diuisions into Lathes Hundreds Wapentakes and Cantreds . I have separated'. He goes on to tell us that the source for much of this information was the 'Parlament Rowles'. Roads are not yet identified. In the upper corners are plans of 'Salesbury' and 'Stonehenge'. That of Salisbury is believed to be the work of Speed himself. The draft manuscripts for many of these reside at Merton College Oxford. The atlas provided the first comprehensive collection of English town plans some the earliest of their kind. This map was engraved by Jodocus Hondius 1563-1612 and was completed by 1610 as written in his imprint at the bottom. The general title page is dated 1611 but 1612 appears in the imprint of the Third and Fourth books. The final work was printed by William Hall and John Beale for John Sudbury and George Humble. The woodblocks cut for the verso text are the work of Christopher Schwytzer. The text itself is largely derived from that of William Camden's 'Britannia'. John Speed 1552-1629 is the best known and among collectors the most popular British cartographer. He was like his father a tailor by trade with a passion for history. On joining the Society of Antiquaries he took his first steps towards the compilation of the atlas that has placed him among the cartographic immortals. The 67 maps are drawn principally from those of Christopher Saxton and where available John Norden. Five maps are acknowledged to each of them. Three of them are derived from William Smith. Bendall Sarah 2002 'Draft Town Maps for John Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine'' in Imago Mundi 54 pp. 30-45; Chubb 1911 Chubb 1927 24; ESTC S11797; Globe 1985 p. 99; Hind 1952-64 II pp. 67-95; Hodson 1974 7.1; Kingley 1982 pp. 215-6 7.1; Schilder MCN VII pp. 481-2; Schilder 2008 VIII pp. 165-70; Shirley 2004 T.Spe 1b; Skelton 1970 7; Tooley 1977 'John Speed. A Personal View' in The Map Collector no. 1 pp. 4-9; Worms & Baynton-Williams 2011 pp. 328-9 335-6 & 641-2. John Sudbury and George Humble. 1612 unknown
1676ref. 21930London: Sold by Tho: Basset in Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell in St. Pauls Church yard 1676. 405 by 515mm. 16 by 20.25 inches. Speed's map of Russia Double-page engraved map with hand-colour. A map of Russia one of the nine new maps added to the 1676 edition of Speed's 'Prospect' the first atlas compiled and published by an Englishman. Unusually this map is not in the carte-à-figure style that characterizes the 'Prospect'. Instead set in the top left-hand corner of the map is a detailed plan of Moscow with points of particular interest such as 'The Emperours Palace' and 'The Horse market' labelled. On the right-hand side is an elaborate cartouche containing views including 'Archangel' Arkhangelsk and 'A Hott House'. Accompanying text in English 'The Description of Russia' is printed on the reverse. John Speed 1552-1629 was the outstanding cartographer of his age. By trade a merchant tailor but by proclivity a historian it was the patronage of Sir Fulke Greville poet and statesman that allowed him to pursue this interest in earnest. His 'Theatre of Great Britain' first published in 1611 or 1612 was the first large-scale printed atlas of the British Isles. The 'Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' from which the present work is drawn appeared in 1627 bound with the 'Theatre' and is the first world atlas compiled by an Englishman to be published in England. Engraved in Amsterdam many of the maps are anglicized versions of works by Dutch makers in distinctive carte-à-figure style featuring borders with figures in local costume and city views. This map is from the 1676 edition of the 'Prospect' published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell. While not as rare as the earlier publications this edition is perhaps the most important given that it is the first to include the nine new maps: among them Virginia and Maryland Barbados and the present example Russia. It is also the last time that the 'Prospect' was printed as an atlas. Shirley Atlases T.SPE-2f. Sold by Tho: Basset in Fleet Street and Richard Chiswell in St. Pauls Church yard,
1676ref. 9731London Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell 1676. Copper engraving 38.5 x 51.5 cm modern hand-colour closed tear in the sea beside the vignette of a naval engagement trivial spotting English text to verso. Speeds 'carte à figure' map of Italy with eight costume vignettes and six city views around the edges with the coats of arms of Corsica and Sardinia. John Speed 1552-1629 is unquestionably the most significant English map-maker of the seventeenth-century. The first edition of Speed's Theatre was published in 1612. It was the first atlas of the British Isles and the first attempt made by an Englishman to match the achievements of the great continental publishing houses - although much of the engraving of the copper plates was performed in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius. Our map of Italy appeared in Speeds Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World the first world atlas attributed to an Englishman first published in 1627; again many of the plates were engraved in Amsterdam mostly by Abraham Goos. Map unknown
1632ref. 30290London: John Dawson for George Humble 1632. Folio pp. 22 1237 i.e. 1281 - page numbers 1043-1086 assigned to recto only 85; includes the preliminary blank leaf; engraved frontispiece portrait of Speed by S. Savery numerous woodcut illustrations and genealogical tables throughout; numerous woodcut initials and ornaments; contemporary full calf perfunctorily rebacked in brown calf maroon morocco label on spine; several clean tears entering text no loss leaf 5a with small piece missing from fore-edge causing minor loss to a few words and numbers light occasional dampstains; a good sound complete copy. A continuation of his Theatre of Great Britaine whose contents are described in this volume as "The Chorographicall Part" accounting for the first 4 books. This volume "The Historicall Part" therefore begins with "the fifth booke" but is complete in itself. STC 23049; Graesse V 462-63; Lowndes 2471-72. John Dawson, for George Humble unknown
1632ref. 30290London: John Dawson for George Humble 1632. Folio pp. 22 1237 i.e. 1281 - page numbers 1043-1086 assigned to recto only 85; includes the preliminary blank leaf; engraved frontispiece portrait of Speed by S. Savery numerous woodcut illustrations and genealogical tables throughout; numerous woodcut initials and ornaments; contemporary full calf perfunctorily rebacked in brown calf maroon morocco label on spine; several clean tears entering text no loss leaf 5a with small piece missing from fore-edge causing minor loss to a few words and numbers light occasional dampstains; a good sound complete copy. A continuation of his Theatre of Great Britaine whose contents are described in this volume as "The Chorographicall Part" accounting for the first 4 books. This volume "The Historicall Part" therefore begins with "the fifth booke" but is complete in itself. STC 23049; Graesse V 462-63; Lowndes 2471-72. John Dawson, for George Humble unknown books
1626ref. 320851626. John Speed was a notable cartographer and historian of Britain. This decorative map is sought after by collectors because it is the first map of Africa prepared by a notable English cartographer. His Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine was widely influential later editions of which included this map of Africa. The map first was published in A prospect of the most famous parts of the world which was a supplement to Speed's Theatre. Somewhat paradoxically this first English map of Africa was engraved by the famous Abraham Goos from Amsterdam - he was a relative of the Hondius family and therefore knew well the Dutch maps from which this map is derived. The map has a long publication history see Betz: published first by William Humble then his son George first state with date of 1626; then Roger Rea most of whose atlases were destroyed in the Great Fire of London 2nd state. Basset & Chiswell acquired Speed's plates after 1668 and published this 3rd state of the map together with maps of the other continents and the world map. Some time before 1690 Christopher Browne acquired the plates but a map of Africa from him is not known. The map is based maps of Jodocus Hondius whose Latin annotations are translated into English and Willem Blaeu his geography. The geography is typically early seventeenth century with its legendary Ptolemaic mountains rivers and lakes; typically the Nile arises from two lakes. The Europeans knew little about the interior of Africa and therefore there are numerous illustrations of terrestrial animals 'elephants for want of towns' according to Jonathan Swift; the oceans have ships and sea serpents. The English text on verso provides a fascinating view of the European concept concerning the wildlife customs and manners of the African people. There is a description of Anthropophagi cannibals who kill their own babies to avoid the trouble of raising them; but in order to preserve their race steal children from their neighbors. The side borders of this carte-a-figure map comprise sets of 5 decorative costumes of African peoples and the top border displays prospects of eight African Cities. Some of the border illustrations are copied from Willem Blaeu. At top is a panel of panoramas and plans illustrating Tanger Ceuta Alger Tunis Alexandria Cairo Alca Mozambique and the Canary Islands. This example of the map is in attractive colour and in very good condition. a few minor chips along the edges and an old repair on the bottom joint. Acid free mounting tape on the back. unknown
1676ref. 21929London: and are to be sold by Tho: Bassett in Fleet Street & Richard Chiswell in St. Pauls Churchyard 1676. 395 by 510mm. 15.5 by 20 inches. Speed's map of 'Tartary' Double-page engraved map with hand-colour. A map of Tartary encompassing parts of modern-day Siberia and Central Asia from the 1676 edition of the first atlas compiled and published by an Englishman Speed's 'Prospect'. The decorative border that runs along the top of the map depicts views of major cities as well as the house built on 'Nova Zemla' Novaya Zemlya by the explorer Willem Barentsz and his crew stranded there in 1596 here presented fending off a polar bear. Along each side are illustrated figures in regional costume. Accompanying text in English 'The Description of the Kingdom of Tartary' is printed on the reverse. John Speed 1552-1629 was the outstanding cartographer of his age. By trade a merchant tailor but by proclivity a historian it was the patronage of Sir Fulke Greville poet and statesman that allowed him to pursue this interest in earnest. His 'Theatre of Great Britain' first published in 1611 or 1612 was the first large-scale printed atlas of the British Isles. The 'Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' from which the present work is drawn appeared in 1627 bound with the 'Theatre' and is the first world atlas compiled by an Englishman to be published in England. Engraved in Amsterdam many of the maps are anglicized versions of works by Dutch makers in distinctive carte-à-figure style featuring borders with figures in local costume and city views. This map is from the 1676 edition of the 'Prospect' published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell. While not as rare as the earlier publications this edition is perhaps the most important given that it is the first to include the nine new maps: among them Virginia and Maryland Barbados and Russia. It is also the last time that the 'Prospect' was printed as an atlas. Shirley Atlases T.SPE-2f. and are to be sold by Tho: Bassett in Fleet Street & Richard Chiswell in St. Pauls Churchyard,
1627ref. 64885London. 1627. A handsome early Sudbury and Humble edition of John Speed's map of Oxfordshire in colour. Towns and cities are highlighted in red decorative college arms and the supposed years of their foundation are found on either side of the map. A detailed inset map of the city of Oxford is in the upper right corner with a separate key with 28 listed city landmarks. The arms of the earl of Oxford to the right. Two academic university figures are seen standing with a pair of compass dividers either side of a striking globe representing the scale of miles. A strapwork border design and the royal coat of arms complete this map wonderfully well. Size: 395 x 535 mm. Copperplate engraving with later hand colouring. Fair condition. Some old repairs to lower central fold. Slight discolouration to the central fold. unknown
1610ref. 38006London: John Sudbury and George Humble 1610-27. In very good to excellent condition. 38.5 x 51 cm 15.25 x 20 inches. Original antique copper engraving hand colored in outline and wash very likely old colored. Engraved by Jodocus Hondius. Published 1627 English text edition. Very decorative map of the County of the kingdom of Ireland. At the top left is the title cartouche on which two putti are sitting holding a harp. Below are six engraved costume prints depicting three couples: Gentleman / Gentlewoman of Ireland Civil Irish woman / Civil Irish Man Wild Irish man / Wild Irish woman. In the top right corner we the coat of arms with the inscription 'God and my right' in French language. In the Irish Sea next to the compass rose and mileage scale a sailing ship and a sea monsters are engraved. Below the imprint with the publisher John Sudbury and George Humble and the privileg dated 1610. An early edition of this rare map of Ireland with strong engraved waves in the sea. John Speed 1551 oder 1552 28. Juli 1629 war ein englischer Kartograf Chronologe und Historiker mit Wurzeln in Cheshire. Als Sohn eines Bürgers und Schneiders in London verließ er den Beruf seiner Familie um die Aufgabe anzunehmen die Geschichte Topografie und Karten der Königreiche Großbritanniens zusammenzustellen und zu überarbeiten um die Vereinigung ihrer Monarchien in der Person von König James I. und VI. darzustellen. Er erreichte dies mit bemerkenswertem Erfolg mit der Unterstützung und Hilfe der führenden Altertumsforscher seiner Generation. Er stützte sich auf die Shire-Karten von Christopher Saxton John Norden und anderen und verbesserte sie indem er als Erster die Hundertgrenzen in sie einfügte und er war der Landvermesser und Urheber vieler der darin enthaltenen Stadtpläne. Seine Arbeit trug dazu bei frühneuzeitliche Konzepte der britischen Nationalidentität zu definieren. Seine biblischen Genealogien wurden auch offiziell mit der Erstausgabe der King-James-Bibel in Verbindung gebracht. Er gehört zu den berühmtesten englischen Kartografen. Wikipedia.A minor marginal light staining in very good to excellent condition. 2nd English edition 1616 P. 255 John Sudbury and George Humble unknown
1626ref. M10939London c.1626. Very Good. Notes: English text on verso. First British map of Asia the map has 8 town plans in upper border and costumes of inhabitants of Asia in side borders. Size : 395x514 mm 15.55x20.24 Inches Coloring: Original Hand Coloring Category: Maps Asia Continent; unknown
ref. 11763London: Performed by Iohn Speed and ar to besolde in Popes head alley by George Humble. 1627. No binding. Very Good. 380 x 510 mm. later outline and wash colour in good condition. This fascinating map recording the military history of England Wales and Ireland was first published in John Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine' in 1627. For this edition a separate world atlas entitled 'A Prospect of the most Famous Parts of the World' was first published. Bound between the two works was this map with four pages of accompanying text. The map is derived from one separately published by John Speed similarly entitled published c.1601 which survives in just five known examples. This map is engraved by Cornelis Danckerts for George Humble. The battles recorded include the Norman invasion of 1066 and all subsequent conflicts through 1588 and the Spanish Armada. A trail of ships up through the North Sea marks the Armada's defeat. Small illustrations of opposing troops mark the site of battles. This is an example of the first state with the imprint of George Humble. This state was issued through the 1650s with alteration to the text setting on the verso only. Provenance: Clive A. Burden Ltd.; private English collection. Shirley 1991 nos. 239 & 431; Skelton 1970 18. Performed by Iohn Speed, and ar to besolde in Popes head alley by George Humble. 1627 unknown
1664ref. 3551London: Rowland Reynolds. Very Good. 1664. First Edition. Rebacked with new endpapers; early twentieth century blind & gilt embossed spine over contemporary full ruled sheep. Fore edge corners renewed. Four full page engravings: incl. frontis of James Howell standing in a wood; his coat of arms to the left which seems to be borrowed form his 'Dendrologie' Paris1641; Charles II of Britain Louis XIV of France & Philip IV of Spain with chapters corresponding to each monarch.; Folio; Additional images and further information provided upon request. ; All shipments through USPS insured Priority Mail. . Rowland Reynolds
1632ref. 129648At London : Printed By Iohn Dauuson For George Humble And Are To Be Sold In Popes-Head Pallace At The Signe Of The White Horse 1632. Third Edition. Hardback. Finely and period sympathetically bound in modern aniline calf over marble boards. Raised bands with a dark morocco gilt-blocked label. An uncommonly good example - scans and additional bibliographic detail on request. ; 1237 pages; With sundry descents of the Saxons kings their marriages and armes. Signatures: par. 6 -par. 1 A8 B-2H6 2I4 2K-4S6 4T4 4V-4Z6 5A8 5B-5Y6 5Z4. Physical desc. : 20 1237 i. E. 1281 85 p. : ill. geneal. Tables. This third edition has been reissued enlarged and newly corrected. Subject: Great Britain - History - To 1485. Referenced by: STC 2nd ed. 23049. At London : Printed By Iohn Dauuson, For George Humble, And Are To Be Sold In Popes-Head Pallace, At The Signe Of The White Hors hardcover
1626ref. 21913London: published at the charges of G. Humble 1626 but 1627-1632. 390 by 500mm. 15.25 by 19.75 inches. The first English map of Africa Double-page engraved map with hand-colour. The first English map of Africa from the first atlas compiled and published by an Englishman Speed's 'Prospect'. The map was engraved by Abraham Goos for Speed's 'Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World'. Along the top border are eight inset views of cities mainly in North Africa for example Alexandria Tangier and Tunis; along the side margins are inset engravings of people from different regions. The map is dense with place names rivers mountains and lakes many fictitious. While ships and sea-monsters populate the sea inland are depicted animals including zebras elephants lions and monkeys. The source of the Nile is given to the Lakes Zaire and Zaflan as according to Ptolemy. Accompanying text in English 'The Description of Africa' is printed on the reverse. John Speed 1552-1629 was the outstanding cartographer of his age. By trade a merchant tailor but by proclivity a historian it was the patronage of Sir Fulke Greville poet and statesman that allowed him to pursue this interest in earnest. His 'Theatre of Great Britain' first published in 1611 or 1612 was the first large-scale printed atlas of the British Isles. The 'Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' from which the present work is drawn appeared in 1627 bound with the 'Theatre' and is the first world atlas compiled by an Englishman to be published in England. Engraved in Amsterdam many of the maps are anglicized versions of works by Dutch makers in distinctive carte-à-figure style featuring borders with figures in local costume and city views. Norwich 30; Shirley Atlases T.SPE-2a. published at the charges of G. Humble,
1626ref. 21912London: Are to be sold in pops-head alley against the Exchange by G. Humble 1626 but 1627-1632. 400 by 510mm. 15.75 by 20 inches. The first English printed map of Asia Double-page engraved map with hand-colour. The first English printed map of the continent of Asia from the first atlas compiled and published by an Englishman Speed's 'Prospect'. The map is heavily influenced by Hondius' 1623 map and inherits the gaps in his geographical understanding of Asia: Korea is presented as a peninsula and an anonymous stretch of water separates Asia from America identified only as a blending of 'The Tartarian Sea' and 'The West Ocean'. In India one finds the mythical 'Lake Ciamay' a common feature of European maps of Asia from the 16th to the 18th c. the imagined source of the major rivers of south-east Asia. The map is not without topographical accuracy however. In China the Great Wall of China is depicted described as 'a bulwarke against the suddaine infall of ye Tartars on this side'. Vignettes in the border at the top of the map depict bird's-eye views of important towns among them 'Goa' and 'Aden'. Illustrated in the borders along the sides of the map are costumed figures. Accompanying text in English 'The Description of Asia' is printed on the reverse. John Speed 1552-1629 was the outstanding cartographer of his age. By trade a merchant tailor but by proclivity a historian it was the patronage of Sir Fulke Greville poet and statesman that allowed him to pursue this interest in earnest. His 'Theatre of Great Britain' first published in 1611 or 1612 was the first large-scale printed atlas of the British Isles. The 'Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' from which the present work is drawn appeared in 1627 bound with the 'Theatre' and is the first world atlas compiled by an Englishman to be published in England. Engraved in Amsterdam many of the maps are anglicized versions of works by Dutch makers in distinctive carte-à-figure style featuring borders with figures in local costume and city views. Chubb XXV; 'Mapping the Continent of Asia' 30; Shirley Atlases T.SPE-2a; Suárez 200. Are to be sold in pops-head alley against the Exchange by G. Humble,
1623ref. 1701800Published by George Humble 1623. Hardback. Very Good. Very good condition with no wrapper. Their Originals Manners Habits Warres Coines and Seales: with the Successions lives acts etc. of the English Monarchs. Second Edition. Revised and enlarged. Contents lists 10 books; this binding contains the following: Contents plus 8 page proeme; Books 5 - 10 plus Summary of the whole and 78 page index table. Very large format. Leather binding with raised bands to spine and black title labels and gilt titles. Contains woodcuts. Leather binding is a modern binding which is faded to spine. NO frontis. Book reads complete with in itself - but starts at book 5. A rare survivor of this historical book! Published by George Humble hardcover
ref. 4272London: George Humble. 1627-31. No binding. Good. 390 x 510 mm. in fine later colour with one minor margin tear short of the image repaired. A very attractive carte-a-figures of Asia engraved by Abraham Goos by John Speed 1552-1629. Speed is the most famous of all the English map-makers. His two most famous publications are ""The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain"" first published in 161112 and the ""Prospect of the most famous parts of the world"" first published in 1627. Speed was a tailor by profession with a great interest for history and maps. He wanted to produce an English atlas of the same high standards and quality as those published on the continent. First he prepared a series of county maps of England and Wales and personally travelled all over the British Isles to acquire the information for all the town plans to be included as separate insets. The ""Prospect of the most famous parts of the world"" first published in 1627 was often bound with the ""Theatre"" and added an additional 20 engraved maps of the various parts of the world. The map is attractive because of the border illustrations and insets with figures in national costume city views town plans and other interesting features. According to a pencilled note on the verso this example is from the second edition of 1631. NMM 438; Phillips Atlases 488; Shirley BL T.Spe 1f; Skelton 18; Wing S4886; Yeo J. 30. George Humble. 1627-[31] unknown
1676ref. 7572London: Basset & Chiswell 1676. Copper engraving 38.5 x 51.5 cms recent hand-colour light crease in the lower right hand corner but generally a very good example; English text on verso. Cartographically Speed follows Mercator but his is one of the most distinctive and decorative early maps of Scotland. The portraits in the borders originally represented James VI and I and his family including a young Prince Charles. The royal family was burnished from the copper plate during the Interregnum and replaced with the commoners seen here: a Scotch man and woman and a Highland man and woman notable as early depictions of tartan. John Speed 1552-1629 is unquestionably the most significant British map-maker of the seventeenth-century. A brief note from Granger's Bibliographical History of England 1779 contains most of the information we have about Speed's life: "John Speed who was bred a Tailor was by the generosity of Sir Fulk Grevil his patron set free from a manual employment and enabled to pursue his studies to which he was strongly inclined by the bent of his genius. The fruits of them were his Theatre of Great Britain containing an entire set of maps of the counties drawn by himself his History of Great Britain richly adorned with seals coins & medals from the Cotton collection; and his Genealogies of Scripture first bound up with the Bible in 1611 which was the first edition of the present English translation. His maps were very justly esteemed & his History of Great Britain was in its kind incomparably more complete than all the histories of his predecessors put together ." The first edition of Speed's "Theatre" was published in 1612. It was the first atlas of the British Isles and the first attempt made by an Englishman to match the achievements of the great continental publishing houses - although much of the engraving of the copper plates was performed in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius. Speed was an antiquary and intended that his atlas should be read in conjunction with his history of Britain. He managed to include a great deal of historical detail on his 'modern' county maps and the inset town plans some surveyed by himself together comprise the first collection of town plans of the British Isles all in all making the Theatre a highly decorative as well as a useful volume. It was a great success and there were editions printed throughout the seventeenth-century. Map Basset & Chiswell unknown
1614ref. M7656London: Sudbury & Humble c.1614. Very Good some skillful reinforcement of the folds. Notes: StolenRare first state of the map. This handsome map from Speed's "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine" after Jodocus Hondius 1610 engraving was described by Christopher Saxton and augmented by John Speed in 1612. This striking map of England has along its side decorative costume figures and a detailed table of all the Shires and other important location of England. Size : 385x515 mm 15.16x20.28 Inches Coloring: Hand Colored Category: Maps Europe United Kingdom; Sudbury & Humble unknown
