Catalog Archive
Auction 139, Lot 408

"Somerset-Shire Described: ad into Hundreds Devided, with the Plott of the Famous and Most Wholsom Waters and Citie of the Bathe", Speed, John

Subject: England

Period: 1710 (circa)

Publication: The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain

Color: Hand Color

Size:
20 x 15 inches
50.8 x 38.1 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This is a classic decorative county map from John Speed’s important English atlas. Besides presenting the most up-to-date information in his maps, Speed also included detailed city plans; in this instance of the city of Bath. This plan shows the Roman baths, as well as the earliest known representation of tennis courts. The map is decorated with the royal coat of arms, the arms of Bath and those of the Dukes of Somerset, two sailing ships and a unique compass rose incorporated into the distance scale. The map shows Henry Overton's imprint whose father, John, had purchased the plates in 1700. Henry reprinted several editions of Speed's Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine during the period 1710-1743.

References:

Condition: B+

Top margin has been reinforced to repair paper loss in blank margin along with a few tiny spots of paper loss near the centerfold that can only be seen when held up to light.

Estimate: $700 - $900

Sold for: $500

Closed on 2/15/2012

Archived