Speed's famous map of the Saxon Heptarchy

SPEED, John.

Britain As It Was Devided in the tyme of the Englishe Saxons especially during their Heptarchy.
London, George Humble, 1627. Coloured. 385 x 505mm.

A few repairs, with some reinforcing with archival tissue on reverse, narrow margins.

A fine impression of the most decorative atlas map of the British Isles, engraved by Jodocus Hondius and first published in Speed's 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain' in 1611. England is shown divided into the seven Saxon kingdoms, with the kingdoms of the Scots, Picts and Welsh also marked. Flanking the map are two columns of vignettes: on the left can be seen the first king of each Saxon region; on the right the conversions of their successors to Christianity, persuaded by discussion, preaching, visions and violence. The English text on verso gives an outline of the history.
Speed's map was influential, copied by both Blaeu and Jansson for their atlases of the British Isles.

SHIRLEY: 399.
Stock ID : 22271