John Speed:  A Newe Mape of Germany Newly Augmented by Iohn Speed Ano Dom: 1626 (Rare Roger Rea Edition!)

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Title: A Newe Mape of Germany Newly Augmented by Iohn Speed Ano Dom: 1626 (Rare Roger Rea Edition!)

Map Maker: John Speed

Description:

Boldly colored example of Speed's map of the German Empire, extending from Poland in the Northeast to the Danube, from the Roger Rea edition of Speed's Prospect.

Includes birdseye views of Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Vienna, Prague, Cologne, Nuremberg, Strassborg and Augsburg across the top and indigenous costumes of a Nobleman, Mar Wife, Bohemian, Helvetian, Cont Man, Gen Woman, Marchant, Bohemian (woman), Helvetian (woman) and Con Woman on the sides.  English text on verso provides a 17th Century description of the German Empire.

This edition of the map bears the imprint of Roger Rea the Elder and Younger. The Reas had purchased the rights to Speed's work form William Garrett in 1589, who had previously purchased them from the widow of William Humble in the same year. Skelton suggests that the father and son intended a new edition of the atlas for the Restoration, of 1660. However, the atlas would appear not to have been published until 1665. This is borne out by an advertisement in the Term Catalogue by the subsequent owners of the plates, Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, in 1675:

"Mr John Speed's... Geography of the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland... together with his Prospect... all in one entire Volume, hath been, for seven Years past, out of Print, the greatest part of an Impression, then newly Printed, being destroyed by the late dreadful Fire, 1666". This is borne out by the rarity of the Rea edition of the atlas. There is evidence that they planned an edition of 1666, as there are impressions of Sussex, Buckingham and Derby, with Rea's imprint, which bear that date. Rea would later sell the plates to Bassett and Chiswell, who would publish a new edition in 1676.

The map bears the following imprint:

Are to be sold by Roger Rea the Elder and younger at the Golden Crosse in Cornhill against the Exchange.

Related Categories:
Maps of Austria
Maps of Czechoslovakia
Maps of Germany
Maps of Poland
Maps of Switzerland