Antique Maps by John Speed (*1552 - 1629)

John Speed was born 1552 at Farndon in Cheshire. First followed his father trade as a tailor until the age of fifty. His real profession was from early age map making an historian as an amateur, and he focused on this with the help of Sir Fulke Greville. As source for his maps, Speed used material from Saxton and Norden, but he also considered up-to-date material especially for the inset town plans on his maps. The maps have been engraved by Jodocus Hondius in Amsterdam and shipped back to London for printing. The first edition of his Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain came to sale 1610-11 and was re-issued until 1770. In 1627 he published A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World, the first World Atlas produced by an Englishman. Re-issues have been published until 1676.
  • John Speed:  York Shire

    William Humble, London, 1646

    A highly decorative map of Yorkshire from John Speed's Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain . Decorated with title, dedication and scale cartouches, a compass rose, coat of arms and a galleon....

    York Shire
    1646 - John Speed
    11448

    Coloured map of Yorkshire, England. Printed in London by William Humble in 1646.

    850,00 €
  • John Speed:  Rutlandshire With Oukham and Stanford her bordering Neighbour Newely described

    T. Bassett and R. Chiswell, London, 1676

    Very decorative antique map of Rutland from John Speed's The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine . Top left with a city plan of Oakham (Oukham), to the right a plan of Stamford (Stanford)....

    Rutlandshire With Oukham and Stanford her bordering Neighbour Newely...
    1676 - John Speed
    11909

    Coloured map of Stamford, Oakham, Rutland, England. Printed in London by T. Bassett and R. Chiswell in 1676.

    490,00 €
  • John Speed:  Dieu et Mon Droit - The Atchievement of our Soveraigne King Charles the IId.

    Thomas Bassett & Richard Chiswell, London, 1676

    Old coloured engraved dedication leaf from John Speed's atlas The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine . The royal coat of arms of Charles II surrounded by 24 coats of arms. Published in London...

    Dieu et Mon Droit - The Atchievement of our Soveraigne King Charles the...
    1676 - John Speed
    12711

    Dedication from John Speed's Atlas. Printed 1676 in London.

    390,00 €
  • John Speed:  A Newe Mape of Poland Done into English by I. Speede

    George Humble, London, 1626

    A highly decorative carte à figures of Poland from John Speed's Prospect of the most famous parts of the world , the first World Atlas published by an Englishman. With side panels depicting...

    A Newe Mape of Poland Done into English by I. Speede
    1626 - John Speed
    11062

    Coloured map of Poland. Printed in London by George Humble in 1626.

  • John Speed:  The Turkish Empire. Newly Augmented by Iohn Speed. 1626

    George Humble, London, 1627

    Beautiful coloured 'carte-à-figure' of the Turkish Empire by John Speed. One of the most decorative maps of Ottoman Empire issued in the 17th Century. The first map of the region published in...

    The Turkish Empire. Newly Augmented by Iohn Speed. 1626
    1627 - John Speed
    10891

    Coloured map of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish. Printed in London by George Humble in 1627.

  • John Speed:  A Map of Russia

    T. Bassett and R. Chiswell, London, 1676

    A highly decorative map of Russia from John Speed's Prospect of the most famous parts of the world , the first World Atlas published by an Englishman. With an inset map of Moscow to the top left,...

    A Map of Russia
    1676 - John Speed
    11307

    Coloured map of Moscow. Printed in London by T. Bassett and R. Chiswell in 1676.

  • John Speed:  A new map of East India

    T. Bassett and R. Chiswell, London, 1676

    Old coloured antique maps of Southeast Asia and India by John Speed. Published in Prospect of the most famous parts of the world , the first World Atlas published by an Englishman. The English...

    A new map of East India
    1676 - John Speed
    11899

    Old coloured map of Southeast Asia. Printed in London by T. Bassett and R. Chiswell in 1676.

Accept We use cookies to optimize and continuously improve our website. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Further information on cookies can be found in our Privacy Statement.