"Wilshire", Speed, John

One of the most decorative maps of Wiltshire, Speed's map features an illustration of Stonehenge, one of Britain’s best known and oldest monuments. The map was drawn and updated from the surveys of Morden and Saxton, enhanced with the boundaries of the hundreds, and filled with detail. The composition is completed with an inset plan of Salisbury, the arms of the earls of Wiltshire and Salisbury, a great compass rose, and an interesting cartouche with text attributing Stonehenge to Ambrosianus King of the Brittaines. The map was beautifully engraved by Jodocus Hondius with his imprint and a 1610 date at bottom center. Published by Bassett & Chiswell with English text on verso.

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

Condition: B

On watermarked paper with numerous small centerfold separations and a couple of tiny chips along the lower centerfold that have been archivally repaired on verso, with a tiny amount of facsimile work at bottom. The entire left border and portions of the decorative elements (about 1" wide) have been professionally replaced in facsimile. There are remnants of hinge tape on verso.