Speed, John

[MAP OF] THE COUNTIE OF LEINSTER WITH THE CITIE DUBLIN DESCRIBED

To be sold by Robert Chiswell in St. Paul's Churchyard and Thomas Basset in Fleetstreet. c. 1676. Map. Uncolored map of County Leinster, 15 in. x 20.25 in. (sheet is 17 in. x 22 in.), with inset map (6 in. x 7 in.) of Dublin with a 69-point key. The map is backed by pages 141/142 of an atlas presentation. Title and legend are decorated with two ornate cartouches, a decorative compass rose, and a full-masted sailing ship and sea-monster that cruise the Irish Sea.

Map is dated 1610. The English text on the verso and the 3-line imprint Chiswell and Bassett below the distance scale indicate it is from the 1676 publication of Speed's "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine." On the map's backside, page 141 describes the geography, people, and history of the County. Page 142 provides an alphabetized list all the towns and villages included on the map.

Light tanning; rubbing and short closed tears along right and edges. Faint vertical fold line at center, and faint horizontal fold line eight inches above bottom. One inch chip in margin at upper right corner. Very Good. Item #100280

John Speed (1552-1629) began his career as a tailor with deep interests in history, theology, and cartography. The patronage of Sir Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke (1554-1628), allowed him to give up his trade and dedicate himself to these interests. In terms of cartography, he is especially known for an ambitious project to publish a series of maps of English counties called Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, first published in 1611. Designed along the lines of Ortelius’ Theatrum orbis terrarum, Speed’s Theatre was groundbreaking: it provided some of the first detailed maps of the Irish provinces as well as town plans for seventy-three English towns. (Univ of Missouri Special Collections).

Price: $1,000.00