HANDSOME HAND-COLORED LARGE 17TH-CENTURY JOHN SPEED MAP OF "THE ROMANE EMPIRE"

(ROMAN EMPIRE) SPEED, John. A New Mappe of the Romane Empire. (London): G. Humble, 1626 or later. One sheet, measuring 20-1/4 by 15-1/2 inches, engraving on recto, letterpress printing on verso. Beautifully matted and window framed, entire piece measures 27-1/2 by 23 inches. $5500.

Very handsome hand-colored 17th-century John Speed map of the Roman Empire at its height, with wonderful inset border illustrations, including views of Rome, Genoa, Jerusalem, Venice, Constantinople, and Alexandria, and depictions of a Spaniard, a Turk, a Moroccan, an Italian, and an Egyptian, and their accompanying wives.

Originally issued as part of Speed's Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World, the first general atlas published in England, published in 1627 as a companion to his Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. These popular works continued to be published throughout the 17th century. As early as 1598, Speed was deemed a master cartographer for his "very rare and ingenious capacities in drawing and setting forth of maps and genealogies, and other very excellent inventions" (DNB). "Loose maps from the Prospect may occasionally be found without the reverse text, suggesting that the maps were also sold separately" (Shirley T.SPE-2a). This copy has the accompanying text on the verso ("The Description of the Romane Empire"), suggesting that it was originally intended to be sold as part of the Prospect. Editions were published with the maps largely unchanged by George Humble in 1627 and 1631, and by his successor William Humble in 1646 and 1650-54; this map, with George Humble's name in the imprint, is certainly from one of those editions (likely the first or second). When Roger Rea published his edition in 1662, he erased Humble's name from the maps' imprints and replaced it with his own. Shirley T.SPE-2a/b.

Early repairs along margins and central fold on verso, hand-coloring bright. A lovely framed historical map.