A famous 17th century map of Ireland

An important map of Ireland, engraved by Jodocus Hondius for John Speed's atlas, the 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine', first published 1611-12. This example still has the original publication line of Sudbury & Humble, but was issued after John Sudbury's death in 1619. It shows Ireland divided into the Four Provinces and, by incorporating the survey work of military cartographer Robert Lythe, greatly improves on existing printed maps, with a remarkable number of place names. The map is decorated with a title cartouche featuring two cherubs supporting a harp and three pairs of costume portraits (a gentleman and gentlewoman, a 'Civill' man and woman and a 'Wilde' man and woman), a compass rose, and ships and monsters in the seas. On the verse is a letterpress description of Ireland.