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Description

"Barbados" is a striking representation of the Caribbean island from John Speed's posthumous Prospect Of The Most Famous Parts Of The World, a pocket atlas published in 1675.

The map serves as a testament to the growing global consciousness in Europe during the late 17th century, particularly in relation to overseas colonies. Barbados, by then a significant English colony, was one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, largely due to its sugar, rum, and molasses production. The inclusion of Barbados in Speed's atlas underscores the island's prominence and importance to the English during this era.

This map of Barbados is notable for its rich detail and precision, reflective of Speed's reputation for accuracy and comprehensive geographical coverage. It presents a thorough portrayal of the island, marking out prominent natural and man-made features. As such, it serves as a valuable historical document, providing a snapshot of Barbados as perceived by the European cartographers of the time.

As a part of Speed's Prospect Of The Most Famous Parts Of The World, this map also holds significance within the larger context of the atlas. The work was one of the first pocket-sized atlases, making geographical knowledge more accessible to a wider audience. Its format represents a shift in the production and consumption of maps, signaling an era where such information was not restricted to the elite but was increasingly available to the general public.

Condition Description
Letterpress text on verso.
Reference
Campbell, Printed Maps Of Barbados, 6.
John Speed Biography

John Speed (1551 or '52 - 28 July 1629) was the best known English mapmaker of the Stuart period. Speed came to mapmaking late in life, producing his first maps in the 1590s and entering the trade in earnest when he was almost 60 years old.

John Speed's fame, which continues to this day, lies with two atlases, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (first published 1612), and the Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (1627). While The Theatre ... started as solely a county atlas, it grew into an impressive world atlas with the inclusion of the Prospect in 1627. The plates for the atlas passed through many hands in the 17th century, and the book finally reached its apotheosis in 1676 when it was published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, with a number of important maps added for the first time.