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Code: 53230
Author: Speed, John
Publisher: John Sudbury and George Humble.
Date published: 1611 circa
FIRST EDITION. Long title: Anglesey Antiently called Mona. Copper engraving; later hand colouring. Overall size : 54.1cms x 41.5cms. Image size : 505mm x 382mm. Compass rose, title in cartouche, inset plan of Beaumaris.English text on verso. Centrefold as published which is cracked 5.5cms from bottom margin edge; some odd marks right hand margin on verso not affecting text and three fox spots at centrefold on verso; pinhole and small area of weakness at Bodederen (only visible when held up to the light) else very good condition and a good strong impression as one would expect and attractively coloured. Unfortunately, there are no surviving records of how many examples of the First Edition (or indeed of any edition) of John Speed's maps were printed. One might speculate that the First Edition could have numbered between about five hundred and one thousand examples. It should be remembered that market for maps was not well developed in England in 1612. This, together with the cost of the atlas, the need for a second edition soon afterwards, and the high quality of impressions from the third, Latin text, edition of 1616, suggests that the first print-run may have been closer to five hundred copies or so. Unfortunately, until an attempt is made at a census of surviving examples, these figures can be regarded as only the roughest of estimates. Ashley Baynton-Williams see http://www.mapforum.com/02/speed.htm