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Description

1676 edition of John Speed's famous carte-a-figures map of France. The map was engraved by Dirck Gryp, and first published in London in 1626.

This remarkable carte-a-figures map of France showcases a collection of captivating vignettes that enrich its visual appeal and historical significance. The vignettes depict various cities, the king and queen, and people from different social classes and regions, offering a unique insight into the cultural diversity and geographic characteristics of France during that period.

The top row of vignettes illustrates the following cities:

  • Angiers (Angers)
  • Poictiers (Poitiers)
  • Orleans
  • Paris
  • Roan (Rouen)
  • Rochelle (La Rochelle)
  • Bordeaux
  • Calis (Calais)
Condition Description
Minor stain in the bottom margin at the centerfold.
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.