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"These two Speed atlases are considered the most important English language atlases of the 17th century." - David Rumsey (12058)

Beautiful example of the John Dawson and George Humble 1631 edition of John Speed's greatest works, his atlas of the world, A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World,  combined with his atlas of the British Isles, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine.

This is the second combination edition of the atlases; Speed's Prospect was first issued in 1627 by George Humble, shortly before Speed's death in 1629. The Theatre was first published in 1612.

This edition of the world atlas includes 22 double-page engraved maps. The Theatre includes 67 double-page engraved maps of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland as well as their constituent counties.

Provenance

Ink ownership inscription "Edward Wallis 1791" on title.

Contents

A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World includes the following maps:

1. A New and Accurat Map of the World Drawne according to ye truest Descriptions latest Discoveries & best Observations yt have beene made by English or Strangers.
2. Asia with the Islands adioyning described, the atire of the people, & Townes of importance all of them newly augmented by I. S.
3. Africae, described the manners of their Habits, and buildinge: newly done into English by I.S.
4. Europ, and the cheife-Cities contayned therin, described: with the habits of most Kingdoms now in use.
5. America with those known parts in that unkowne worlde both people and manner of buildings Discribed and inlarged
6. Ελλάς | Greece
7. A New Mappe of the Romane Empire newly described by John Speede
8. A. Newe Mape of Germany Newly Augmented by John Speed.
9. Bohemia Newly described by John Speed
10. France revised and augmented, the attires of the French and Situations of their chiefest cityes observed by John. Speede.
11. A New Mape of Ye XVII Provinces of Low Germanie, mended a new in manie places.
12. Spaine Newly described, with many adictions, both in the attires of the people & the Situations of their cheifest Cityes.
13. Italia Newly augmented by I. Speede
14. The Mape of Hungari newly augmented by John. Speede
15. The Kingdome of Denmarke augmented by John Speede
16. A Newe. Mape of Poland
17. The Kingdome of Persia with the cheef Citties and Habites described.
18. The Turkish Empire. Newly Augmented by John Speed 1626.
19. the Kingdome of China newly augmented by I.S.
20. A Newe Mape of Tartary augmented by John Speede and are to be sold in pops head Alley by George Humble.
21. Mappa Aestivarum | A Mapp of the Sommer Islands
22. The Invasions of England and Ireland With al their Ciuill Wars Since the Conquest.

The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine includes the following maps:

1. The Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland
2. Britain as it was devided in the tyme of the Englishe Saxons
3. The Kingdome of England
4. Kent
5. Sussex
6. Surrey
7. Hantshire
8. Wight Island
9. Dorsetshyre
10. Cornwall
11. Somerset-Shire
12. Wilshire
13. Barkshire
14. Midle-Sex described with the Most Famous...
15. Essex
16. Suffolke
17. Norfolk
18. Cambridgeshire
19. Hartfordshire
20. Bedford Shire
21. Buckingamshire
22. Oxfordshire
23. Glocestershire
24. Hereford-Shire
25. Worcestershire
26. The Counti of Warwick
27. Northampton-Shire
28. Huntington-Shire
29. Rutlandshire
30. Leicestershire
31. The Countie and Citie of Lyncolne
32. The Countie of Nottingham
33. Darbieshire
34. Stafford Countie
35. Shropshyre
36. Countye Palatine of Chester
37. The Countie Pallatine of Lancaster
38. York Shire
39. The West Ridinge of Yorkeshyre
40. North and East Ridings of Yorkshire
41. The Bishoprick and Citie of Durham
42. The Countie Westmorland
43. Cumberland
44. Northumberland
45. The Isle of Man
46. Holy Island. Garnsey. Farne. Jarsey.
47. Wales
48. Pembrokeshire
49. Caermarden Both Shyre and Towne
50. Glamorgan Shyre
51. Monmouthshire
52. Breknoke Both Shyre and Towne
53. The Countie of Radnor
54. Cardigan Shyre
55. Montgomery Shire
56. Marionethshire
57. Denbighshire
58. Flint-Shire
59. Caernarvon Both Shyre and shire-tonwe
60. Anglesey
61. The Invasions of England and Ireland
62. Kingdome of Scotland
63. Kingdome of Irland
64. Province of Mounster
65. Countie of Leinster
66. Province of Connaugh
67. Province of Ulster