Early county map of Somerset

John Speed's early map of Somerset, engraved by Jodocus Hondius for Speed's county atlas, 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', first issued 1611-12. It is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with a plan of Bath with vignettes of the Roman baths, the Royal Arms and those of local nobles and a scale cartouche featuring a pair of compasses. On the reverse is a letterpress description of the county. Tthis 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.