Speed's Map Featuring London

"Midle-Sex Described with the Most Famous Cities of London and Westminster", Speed, John

This superb map of Middlesex extends to include portions of Berkshire, Hartford, Surrey, Kent and Essex with the Thames River prominently depicted. Flanking the main map are insets of London and Westminster at top and engravings of St. Peter's and St. Paul's Cathedrals at bottom. Decorated by an elegant distance scale in English Miles and partial compass rose. Considered one of the most decorative maps of the region. Imprint at bottom reads "Described by John Norden, Agumented by J. Speed, Solde in Popes head alley against the Exchange by George Humble." Jodocus Hondius is identified as the engraver in 1610 just above the bottom neat line. Blank verso.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.SPE-1e.

Condition: B

A dark impression with moderate toning, light soiling, a crease adjacent to the centerfold, and a few stains mostly confined to the blank margins. The map has been fully backed with a sheet of old paper to provide support and repair a tiny centerfold separation at bottom. There are also a few tiny tears confined to the blank margins.