The famous map of Leinster by John Speed

A fine map of Leinster, 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 cartouches for the title and scale, inset plan of Dublin, a compass rose, seamonster and galleon. 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.