A scarce issue of John Speed's map of Devon

SPEED, John.

Devonshire with Excester Described And the Armes of such Nobles as have borne the titles of them.
London: Roger Rea and Son, 1665. Coloured. 385 x 520mm.

Some minor restoration.

An important map of Devon, engraved by Jodocus Hondius for John Speed's county atlas, 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', first published 1611-12. It is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with ornate cartouches for the title and scale, an inset plan of Exeter, a strapwork title cartouche, a Royal Crest and the arms of eight local nobles. An English text on the reverse gives a history of the county and an extensive list of towns and villages.
This example comes from the Roger Rea issue of the atlas, 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.


Stock ID : 24038