A rare issue of Speed's map of Herefordshire

SPEED, John.

Hereford-Shire described With the true plot of the Citie Hereford, as alsoe the Armes of thos Nobles that have bene intituled with that Dignity.
London: Roger Rea & Son, 1665. 385 x 515mm.

John Speed's famous map of Herefordshire, engraved by Jodocus Hondius in 1610 and first published in his county atlas, 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain', in 1611-12. It is one of the most decorative maps of the county, with a town plan of Hereford, a strapwork title cartouche, a stylised battle and two cartographers in the lower corners. On verso is an English text history of the county.
This example comes from the Roger Rea issue, 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 : 24001