A fine example of the first world atlas by an Englishman published in England.

‘The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine’ followed the model of Ortelius’s ‘Theatrum orbis terrarum’ – first published in English in 1606 – in its title and its format, with map-sheets backed by historical and geographical texts and gazetteers of place names.

This was the earliest English attempt at producing an atlas on a grand scale, with the first detailed maps of the provinces of Ireland, the first set of county maps consistently attempting to show the boundaries of territorial divisions, and the first truly comprehensive set of English town plans-a notable contribution to British topography. Perhaps as many as fifty of the seventy-three towns had not previously been mapped, and about fifty-one of the plans were probably Speed’s own work.

In 1606, Speed might have been helped by his son John in surveying towns. A balance is struck between the modern and historical, with information placed on the edges of the maps about antiquarian remains, and sites and vignettes of famous battles, together with arms of princes and nobles. This additional information is one of the ‘Theatre”s most significant contributions. Scotland is covered in less detail, as Timothy Pont was surveying there.

“Individual maps for the Theatre were prepared from about 1602, plates were engraved by Jodocus Hondius-noted for his skills in decoration-from 1607, George Humble was granted a privilege to print the ‘Theatre’ for twenty-one years from 1608, and the ‘Theatre’ and ‘History’ were published together in 1611-12. They were an immediate success: three new editions and issues of each appeared during Speed’s lifetime, and a miniature version was first published about 1619-20. The maps in the ‘Theatre’ became the basis for subsequent folio atlases until the mid-eighteenth century. By 1625 Speed had lost his sight. Nevertheless, in 1627 he published ‘A Prospect of the most Famous Parts of the World’, which shared a title-page with the 1627 edition of the Theatre. “The Prospect, the earliest world atlas by an Englishman” (though not the first to be published in England)” (Bendall).

‘The Prospect’ includes the World map showing California as an Island, Continents and 6 maps of America, 4 of which appear for the first time including: “A Map of New England and New York” (Burden 455); “A Map of Virginia and Maryland” (Burden 456) “A new Description of Carolina” (Burden 457).

John Speed (1551-1629), was probably apprenticed as a rolling-press printer as a young man, and made free in September of 1580. His earliest cartographic works were historical, and included, in 1595, a wall map of the Holy Land, ‘Canaan as it was Possessed both in Abraham and Israels Dayes’, a two-sheet map of ‘The Invasions of England and Ireland with all their Civill Warres since the Conquest’ (1601) and a wall map of England, Wales and Ireland showing the same information (c1603–1604). Meanwhile, the individual maps for his first atlas were being prepared from about 1602. The plates were engraved by Jodocus Hondius from 1607, and George Humble was granted a privilege to print it for twenty-one years from 1608. The ‘History of Great Britaine’ (1611) and its companion atlas volume, the ‘Theatre of the Empire of great Britaine’ (1612) were published together and “were an immediate success: three new editions and issues of each appeared during Speed’s lifetime, and a miniature version was first published about 1619-20. The maps in the ‘Theatre’ became the basis for subsequent folio atlases until the mid-eighteenth century. By 1625 Speed had lost his sight. Nevertheless, in 1627 he published ‘A Prospect of the most Famous Parts of the World’, which shared a title-page with the 1627 edition of the Theatre” (Bendall).

In addition to its rarity this atlas is interesting in that when rebound in Victorian times the maps were each set within a protective mount retaining margins. This has ensured that none of the maps are marked or thumbed in any way.