A 17th century map of Connaught

SPEED, John.

The Province of Connaugh with the Citie of Galwaye Described.
London: Roger Rea. 1665. Coloured. 395 x 515mm.

A fine map of Connaught, engraved by Jodocus Hondius as one of the four provinces of Ireland in John Speed's important atlas, 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', first published 1611-12. It is one of the most decorative maps of the province, with strapwork cartouches for the title, scale and publication inscription, and an inset plan of Galway.
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 : 23784