Decorative Map of Britain with Vignettes of Saxon History - Spanish Edition

"Britannia Prout Divisa suit Temporibus Anglo-Saxonum, Praesertim Durante Illorum Heptarchia", Blaeu, Johannes

Magnificent map of Anglo-Saxon Britain flanked by elaborate vignettes depicting kings and scenes from Saxon history. The scenes are identical in subject matter to those used by John Speed. However they are presented in the dramatic, Dutch miniature style. The left border contains portraits of the earliest kings, while the right one depicts later kings in the process of conversion to Christianity. Included is a scene of Ethelbert receiving instruction from Saint Augustine and another of Sebert re-consecrating the temples of Diana and Apollo, now St. Paul's, London and St. Peters, Westminster. The map shows England, Scotland and Wales divided into the various Saxon kingdoms, each decorated with its coat-of-arms. A superb example of Dutch cartographic design and engraving. Spanish text on verso, published between 1658-62.

References: Shirley (BI to 1650) #549; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #5000H:2B.

Condition: B+

Remargined on all sides with period correct paper. There is contemporary outline color in the map with a few areas of cracking due to the oxidation of green pigment that have been archivally repaired on verso. A few short tears in the lower right and left decorative panels have also been archivally repaired on verso.