Stafford. FIRST EDITION. by John Speed

Code: 53796

 Date 1611

FIRST EDITION.  Copper engraving with later hand colouring. Long title: Stafford Countie and Towne with the ancient Citie Lichfeild described.   Overall size: 54.6cms x 42cms.  Image size: 508mm x 382 mm. Two town plans, of Lichfield right with key below and Stafford top  left . Beautiful, dark engraving as befits a first edition.  Archival strengthening of centrefold; two edge repairs and bottom margin repair; small area of surface abrasion first margin right page verso else good condition.
Unfortunately, there are no surviving records of how many examples of the First Edition (or indeed of any edition) 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