A scarce issue of Speed's map of Derbyshire

SPEED, John.

Darbieshire described. Anno 1610.
London: Roger Rea, 1665. Coloured. 385 x 515mm.

One of the most famous maps of the county, engraved by Jodocus Hondius in 1610 for John Speed's county atlas, 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', 1611-1612. The decorations include an inset plan of Derby and a view of Buxton Wells, a compass rose, the Royal Arms and and armorials of six local nobles. On the reverse is a letterpress description of the county and a gazetteer.
This example comes from the Roger Rea issue, which was beset with disaster: according to an advert for the 1676 Bassett & Chiswell edition, ''the greatest part of an Impression, then newly Printed, [was] destroyed by the late dreadful Fire, 1666". Surviving examples of any Rea map are thus rare.


Stock ID : 23821