Hantshire (Hampshire): by "Speed, John.": Antique Maps

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Hantshire (Hampshire)

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by:: "Speed, John."
Description:: "Engraved by Jodocus Hondius. English text on back of map. Copper engraving with later but not recent hand colouring. Overall size : 53.8cms x 41.8cms. Image size : 506mm x 374mm. Inset plan of Winchester. Eight armorials, left and right margin; highly decorative title cartouche showing the royal coat of arms; inset batttle scene and historical description of the wars between Maud the Empresse entitled Lady of England and King Stephen. The English text on the back has a list of places on the left side and a description of Hampshire itself its history, trade , town and commodities on the right. Speed declares Hampshire to have:’Soile rich for Come and Cattle, pleasant fro pasturage and plenteous for Woods; in a word, in all commodities either for Sea or Land, blessed and happie’. Old strengthening at foot of centrefold on verso repairing a slight split at the very bottom away from the map itself and continuing 8 cms up centrefold on verso for no apparent reason. Two fox spots on front (one to right of Hantshire title box and one in left hand margin next to the town plan ) otherwise excellent condition.Until his late thirties, John Speed was a tailor by trade but his passion for history and map-making led him to gain a patron in Sir Fulke Greville, the poet and statesman, who found him a post in the customs and helped subsidize his map-making, giving him “full liberty to express the inclination of my mind”. He became aquainted with the publisher William Camden, whose descriptive text was used by Speed for most of the maps in his atlas “The Theatre of Empire of Great Britain” published most probably in 1612 although it bears the date 1611 on the main title page. The maps were engraved in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius, one of the foremost engravers of his time. Speed’s maps are unique historical documents of their time and the town plans featured on the maps are in most cases the first information we have of their early apppearance. Their artistry has guaranteed the collectability of these maps in the centuries that have followed."
Publisher:: John Sudbury and George Humble.
Published Date:: 1627
MostlyMaps ID:: 46771
Price :: £900.00

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