Cardiganshyre by John Speed

Cardiganshyre by John Speed

Code: 52385

£375.00 Approx $477.1, €438.6
 

Author: John Speed

Publisher: John Sudbury and George Humbell

Date published: 1627

Copper engraving by Jodocus Hondius, later hand colouring.Overall size : 53.1cms.x 41cms. Large strapwork title cartouche incorporating the Royal Arms and the Arms of Wales (which are still used by the present Prince of Wales when he is in Wales). Town plan of Cardigan within a strapwork carouche from which is suspended a compass rose with the Prince of Wales Feathers inset Scale of distance in cartouche at bottom of the map. Arms of Thomas Brudenel, Inset town plan of Cardigan. Three ships and two sea monsters. English text on verso listing the towns and with a description of the county. Highly decorative map in very good condition apart from slight show through from text on verso in blank areas. 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