A 17th century map of Munster

A fine map of Munster, 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, scale and publication inscription, and inset plans of Cork and Limerick. 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.