The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine and the Prospect

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The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine and the Prospect

SPEED, John (1552-1629). The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine: Presenting an exact geography of the Kingdome of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isles adioyning . London: for George Humble at the Whit Horse in Popes Alley, [1632]-1650. [ with ]: A Prospect of The Most Famous Parts of the World . London: John Legatt for William Humble and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-Head Palace, 1646. 1650 edition of Speed's influential atlas, together with Prospect. John Speed’s fame, which continues to this day, lies with these two atlases, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine (first published 1612), and the Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World (1627). William Humble took over the George Humble copperplates of the earlier editions, publishing his edition of the Theatre in 1646. Between 1650 and 1654 William issued further versions of the atlas, with a succession of amended dates on the map sheets. The contemporary binding stamped with the royal arms of Charles I is an intriguing witness to the political circumstances surrounding the atlas's ownership during the Interregnum. The volume bears an ownership inscription of Nicholas Hare, possibly a member of the Norfolk Hare family of Stow Bardolph or Harpham, and the armorial decoration suggests Royalist sympathies on the part of an early owner. William Humble, who inherited Speed's plates from his father George, is known to have supported the Royalist cause and later received royal favour following the Restoration. Later Commonwealth issues of the atlas incorporate alterations to certain maps and royal imagery, reflecting the changing political climate of the period. Not in Chubb or Wing; see Skelton 57. Two works in one volume, folio (420 x 305mm). Mounted on guards throughout. Prospect, bound before the Theatre, comprising engraved portrait of John Speed, letterpress title and 21 double-page engraved maps of the world; Theatre with engraved general title set in architectural and allegorical surround, 3 letterpress section titles, full-page engraving of Royal arms, 68 double-page engraved maps, including an additional map showing the Civil Wars fought in England, Wales & Ireland bound in before the map of Great Britain. (Prospect: light dampstain to prelims, engraved frontispiece remargined at bottom, small wormhole near centerfold of China map, small loss at lower margin just passing neatline of Tartary; Theatre with short closed tear on A2 touching the word "man" and King of Wales shield on verso, B2 with closed tear at lower margin, Surrey with upper corner ?misprinted just affecting border, a few maps with marginal soiling/small losses, Westmoreland with small puncture near centerfold, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire with versos blank and text laid down and annotated in an early hand.) Contemporary reversed calf, panelled in gilt, stamped with the Royal arms of Charles I, fleuron cornerpieces, the spine in seven compartments, unlettered (head and foot of spine worn with slight loss, corners rubbed, speckled edges).

Estimate:£52,864.07

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