An uncommon issue of Speed's map of Suffolk

SPEED, John.

Suffolke described and divided into Hundreds, The situation of the fayre towne Ipswich shewed, with the Armes of the most noble families that have bene either Dukes, or Earles both of that Countie as also of Clare.
London: Roger Rea, 1665. Coloured. 385 x 515mm.

One of the most famous maps of Suffolk, engraved by Jodocus Hondius in 1610 and published in John Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', first published 1611-12. An inset town plan shows Ipswich, and decorations include cherubs holding surveying tools, the Royal Crest, the arms of nine nobles and a vignette galleon. The English text on the reverse gives a brief history 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 : 23830