Description

Antique copper engraved map by John Speed.

Published 1647 in hand colour

John Speed (1552–1629) was born the son of a tailor in Cheshire. For a time he followed his father’s trade, however his real enthusiasm lay in drawing maps and studying antiquities. He began preparing his individual maps as early as 1603, and published the collection in The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine in 1611-12. His most important contribution to map making are incorporating town plans into the county maps. He went on to publish further maps A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World in 1627. His maps were published in various editions into the 18th century.