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John Speed Antique Maps - Antique 17th Century

"Hi David, Just to let you know that the Speed map (Wiltshire) arrived at my office this morning and it's amazing! Thank you so much for the prompt service and for your help with it all. Happy Easter. All the best, Claire." Read our customers comments here.

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John Speed antique map of Surrey for sale

Surrey
John Speed and John Overton
c.1720
£695.00

John Speed map of Monmouthshire 1614 for sale

Monmouthshire
John Speed
c.1614
£475.00

Essex Map by Speed for sale

Essex
John Speed

c.1676
£765.00

John Speed first edition map of Staffordshire for sale

Staffordshire
First Edition
John Speed
1611
£695.00

John Speed antique map of Ireland for sale

Ireland
John Speed

1676
SOLD

John Speed Antique Map of the Britain for sale

Invasions of England and Ireland
John Speed
1676
£1250.00

John Speed original map of Devon for sale

Devonshire
John Speed

c.1720
£795.00

John Speed original map of The Isle of Man for sale

Isle of Man
John Speed
c.1627
£595.00

Warwickshire First Edtion map by John Speed for sale

Warwickshire
John Speed
1611
£595.00

Britain by John Speed for sale

Britain
John Speed
1623-27
£995.00

IOW John Speed original antique map for sale

Isle of Wight
John Speed
1627
SOLD

19th century map of Poland for sale

Poland
John Speed
1676
SOLD

Antique Map of the Gloucestershire by John Speed for sale

Gloucestershire
John Speed
1676
SOLD

Wiltshire Speed 1676

Wiltshire
John Speed

c. 1676
SOLD

South Devon antique map for sale

Glamorganshire
John Speed
1676
SOLD

John Speed antique maps for sale The Isle of Man

Cornwall
John Speed

c.1676
SOLD

John Speed (1552-1629)

Born at Farndon in Cheshire and followed his father's trade as a tailor. By 1584 he had moved to London with his wife (Susanna who bore twelve sons and six daughters) and been made a Freeman of Merchant Tailors in 1580.

He was a keen amateur historian and map maker, producing maps for the Merchant Tailors in 1598. Became a member of the Society of Antiquaries where it is likely that he came into contact with leading historians of the day such as Sir Robert Cotton, William Camden, whose text he had read, and perhaps even Christopher Saxton. His interests came to the notice Sir Fulke Greville who made an allowance so that he should be free to write a history of England and, by courtesy of Queen Elizabeth, he worked from a room in the Custom House.

A good historian, he was a great gatherer of information 'I have put my sickle to other men's corne'. Most of his map material was copied from Saxton: however, John Norden (c.1548-1625)) and William Smith (c.1550-1618) had produced maps of some countries and Gerard Mercator maps of the regions. Yet Speed must have travelled extensively, for his maps go well beyond those of his predecessors. By including the hundreds, the inset town plans and heraldic devices of his maps and modifying the Camden text in the atlas he assured its success and lasting appeal

Original John Speed maps for sale.