A map of Bohemia, a kingdom covering areas of what is now the Czech republic, one of the kingdoms making up the Holy Roman Empire. The upper border contains city views of Prague, Chomutov, Slany, Louny and Polna; the side borders contain figures in local dress.

John Speed (1552-1629) was the outstanding cartographer of his age. His ‘Theatre of Great Britain’, first published in 1611 or 1612, was the first atlas of Great Britain: Speed prepared the maps himself about two years before they were published. This map is from the ‘Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World’, produced in collaboration with Speed to accompany the ‘Theatre’ and published in a joint edition by George Humble in 1631. Many of the maps were anglicized versions of works by Dutch makers, who introduced the carte-à-figure style, with borders of figures in local costume and city views.