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Maps, The Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch, and Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile, scale about 4 miles to 1 inch, by John Speed, London, 1611; published 1611-1770.
Also a general map, Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland.
Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine: Presenting An Exact Geography of the Kingdomes of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Iles adioyning: With The Shires, Hundreds, Cities and Shire-townes, within ye Kingdome of England, divided and described By John Speed. Imprinted at London. Anno, Cum Privilegio, 1611. And are to be solde by John Sudbury & Georg Humble, in Popes-head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse.'
The 1611 map of Westmorland has an inset plan of Kendale, and coats of arms of Ralph Nevill, and of John Duke of Bedford, John Duke of Somerset, John de Foix, Earls of Westmorland, also the arms of Kendal and the royal arms; sold by George Humble; text on the reverse abridged from Camden's Britannia.
The 1611 map of Cumberland is dated 1610, it has an inset plan of Carlile, and coats of arms of Henry Clifford, Marcatus, Ran. Mescems, Andrew Harkley, Earls of Carlisle, also the arms of Carlisle and the royal arms; sold by J Sudbury and Georg Humble; text on the reverse abridged from Camden's Britannia.
The 1611 atlas has a pictorial title page, and 6 leaves of text including a dedication, contents and Speed's preface 'To the Well-affected and favourable Reader'; its size 9 1/2 x 15 ins. The maps are based on Saxton's maps of the counties, but, unlike other copyists, John Speed honestly admits 'I have put my sickle into other mens corne'. He was a dilgent researcher and added material from the libraries and collections of antiquarian friends. Note that the town plans have no scale line and so are not originally by John Speed, but are copied.
This is the earliest published atlas of the British Isles, the town plans are the first comprehensive collection of such.
Published in an early edition 1605-10.
The early map Westmorland has the cartouche on the left is blank, and the three shields bottom left are blank, reverse blank: Cumberland has no imprint, the sea is not shaded, and the note about the Picts Wall ends at ... Battlements, blank reverse.
Published in an edition of the atlas printed 1614.
Published in a Latin edition 'Theatrum Imperii Magnae Britanniae: Exactam Regnorum Angliae, Scotiae, Hiberniae et Insularum adiacentium Geographia ob oculos ponens uno cum Comitatibus, Centurijs, Urbibus et primarijs Comitatum oppidis, intra Regnum Angliae, divisis et descriptis. Opus, Nuper quidem a Johanne Spedo cive Londinensi, Anglice conscriptum: Nunc vero, a Philemone Hollando, apud Coventrianos Medicinae Doctore Latinitate donatum. Imprinted at London Anno Cum Privilegio 1616 And are to be solde by John Sudbury & Georg Humble in Popes-head alley at ye signe of ye white Horse. 1616.'
Latin text on the reverse of the map.
Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ... by John Speed ... 1627. Are to be sold by George Humble at the Whit horse in Popes-head Alley.'
The text is reset.
Published in a Latin edition by Philemon Holland, 1646.
Latin text is on the reverse, the initial letter having a dotted border.
Published in 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine ... by John Speed. Imprinted at London ... 1650. Are to be sold by Roger Rea the Elder, and younger, at the Golden Crosse agat. ye. Exchange, 1650-62.'
The Cumberland map has some changes. After the Restoration, 1660, Prince Rupert was made Duke of Cumberland and his arms were added down left of the title cartouche; and the arms of James Hay, Earl of Carlisle and of Charles Howard were added on the right. The privileges and dates are erased.
The text of the 1665 edition is reset in smaller type, the initial letter has a shaded leaf decoration; the map is the same except that Rea's imprint is substituted for Humble's.
Published, as single maps? 'to be sold by Thomas Bassett in Fleet street and Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Churchyard.' from 1662
Published in 'The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. ... As also A Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World. By John Speed. With many Additions never before Extant. London. Printed for Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, 1676.'; and noting '... In this New Edition are added the The Principal Roads and their Branches leading to the Cities and Chief Towns in England and Wales, with their computed distances. In a new and accurate method. The Market Towns wanting in the former Impressions. A Continuation of all the Battels fought ... The Arms of all the Dukes and Earls ... to the Last Creation. ... London; Printed for Thomas Basset at the George in Fleet Street, and Richard Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, MDCLXXVI.' 1676.
The title and text pages, and the text on the reverse of the maps of the 1676 edition are much modified. The Westmorland and Cumberland maps do not have roads, which are advertised on the title page of the atlas.
The Westmorland map has the coat of arms of Francis Fane upper left. Its imprint, lower right is 'Performed Iohn Speede and are to be sold by Thomas Bassett in Fleetstreet, and Ric. Chiswell in St. Paul's Churchyard.'
The Cumberland map has the coat of arms of Prince Rupert upper left. The imprint is similar.
In this edition the imprint on the maps is for Bassett and Chiswell; the maps are corrected as described.
The maps without text were offered by Bassett and Chiswell in 1676, perhaps before their complete atlas was ready; 'Particular maps of ... any Shire and County in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, will be sold by themselves, without the Description, to such as desire them, each Map, 6d.'
Speed's plates were later in possession of:- Christopher Browne, about 1690; John Overton, d1713; his son Henry Overton, d.1751; and the latter's nephew Henry; C Dicey and Co, about 1770.
   Speed 1695
(example map Dove Cottage : 2007.38.14)
map feature:- picture frame border & swash lettering & title cartouche & strapwork cartouche & coat of arms & heraldic border & descriptive text & compass rose & labelled borders (English) & scale line (with dividers) & sea moire effect & coast shaded & rivers & lakes & relief & hillocks & woods & trees & parks & county & settlements
inscription:- printed title cartouche, upper right
THE / COUNTIE / WESTMORLAND / AND KENDALE THE / CHEIF TOWNE DE- / SCRIBED / With the Armes of such Nobles as have / bene Earles of / either of them.
inscription:- printed below the scale line, lower right
Performed John Speede, and are to be sold by George / Humble in Popes head alley against th Exchange.
inscription:- water mark:
[R G ]
inscription:- water mark:
bunch of grapes
wxh, sheet:- 56.5x43.5cm
wxh, plate:- 504x384mm
wxh, map:- 502x382mm
inscription:- printed above the scale line
THE SCALE OF MILES
scale line:- 9 miles = 89.4 mm
scale:- 1 to 160000 ? (1 to 162014 from scale line wrongly assuming a statute mile)
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references:- Speed, John: 1611 & 1614 & 1627=1631 & 1650=1662: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine: (London)
Speed, John: 1616: Theatrum Imperii Magnae Britanniae: (London)
Speed, John: 1627: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Humble, George (London)
Speed, John: 1646: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Humble, William (London)
Speed, John: 1665: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Rea, Roger (London)
Speed, John: 1676: Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, The: Bassett, Thomas & Chiswell, Richard (London)
Hodges, C W: 1949: John Speed's Theatre, Some Reflections on the Style of the Elizabethan Playhouse: Theatre Notebook: 3: pp.28-31
Skelton, R A: 1952: Tudor Town Plans in John Speed's Theatre: Archaeological J: 108: pp.109-20
Arlott, J (ed): 1953: John Speed's England (facsimile): (London)
sources:- Chubb 1927 (XXII)
Curwen 1918
Armitt Library
Wordsworth Trust Collection
private collection
Kendal Library Maps
Carlisle Library Maps
items seen (illustrated items in bold, * have map squares etc):-
   Armitt Library : 1959.187 -- map -- Cumberland -- Carlile
   Armitt Library : A6632 -- atlas -- Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain
   Armitt Library : A6632.1 -- map -- Kingdome of Great Britain and Ireland
   Armitt Library : A6632.2 -- map -- Britain as it was Devided in the tyme of the Englishe Saxons especially during their Heptarchy
   Armitt Library : A6632.3 -- map -- Kingdome of England
   Armitt Library : A6632.4 -- map -- Kent
   Armitt Library : A6632.5 -- map -- Sussex
   Armitt Library : A6632.6 -- map -- Surrey
   Armitt Library : A6632.7 -- map -- Hantshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.8 -- map -- Wight Island
   Armitt Library : A6632.9 -- map -- Dorsetshyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.10 -- map -- Devonshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.11 -- map -- Cornwall
   Armitt Library : A6632.12 -- map -- Somersetshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.13 -- map -- Wilshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.14 -- map -- Barkshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.15 -- map -- Middlesex
   Armitt Library : A6632.16 -- map -- Essex
   Armitt Library : A6632.17 -- map -- Suffolk
   Armitt Library : A6632.18 -- map -- Cambridgshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.19 -- map -- Hartford Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.20 -- map -- Bedford Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.21 -- map -- Buckingham Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.22 -- map -- Oxfordshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.23 -- map -- Glocestershire
   Armitt Library : A6632.24 -- map -- Herefordshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.25 -- map -- Worcester Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.26 -- map -- Counti of Warwick, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.27 -- map -- Northamton Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.28 -- map -- Huntington Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.29 -- map -- Rutlandshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.30 -- map -- Leicester County
   Armitt Library : A6632.31 -- map -- County of Lyncolne, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.32 -- map -- Countie of Nottingham
   Armitt Library : A6632.33 -- map -- Darbieshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.34 -- map -- Stafford Countie
   Armitt Library : A6632.35 -- map -- Shropshyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.36 -- map -- Countye Palatine of Chester
   Armitt Library : A6632.37 -- map -- Countie Palatine of Lancaster
   Armitt Library : A6632.38 -- map -- York Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.39 -- map -- West Ridinge of Yorkshyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.40 -- map -- North and East Ridins of Yorkshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.41 -- map -- Bishoprick of Durham
   Armitt Library : A6632.42 -- map --
   Armitt Library : A6632.43 -- map -- Cumberland
   Armitt Library : A6632.44 -- map -- Northumberland
   Armitt Library : A6632.45 -- map -- Isle of Man, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.46 -- map -- Holy Island -- Garnsey -- Jarsey -- Farne
   Armitt Library : A6632.47 -- map -- Wales
   Armitt Library : A6632.48 -- map -- Penbrokshyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.49 -- map -- Caermarden Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.50 -- map -- Glamorgan Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.51 -- map -- Monmouthshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.52 -- map -- Breknoke Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.53 -- map -- Countie of Radnor
   Armitt Library : A6632.54 -- map -- Cardigan Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.55 -- map -- Montgomery Shire
   Armitt Library : A6632.56 -- map -- Merionethshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.57 -- map -- Denbighshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.58 -- map -- Flintshire
   Armitt Library : A6632.59 -- map -- Caernarvon Shyre
   Armitt Library : A6632.60 -- map -- Anglesey
   Armitt Library : A6632.61 -- map -- Invasions of England and Ireland
   Armitt Library : A6632.62 -- road diagram -- West Road from London to Bristol
   Armitt Library : A6632.63 -- road diagram -- Western Road London to the Lands End in Cornwall
   Armitt Library : A6632.64 -- road diagram -- North Road from London to Barwick
   Armitt Library : A6632.65 -- road diagram -- South East, South and South West Roads from London
   Armitt Library : A6632.66 -- road diagram -- North West Road from London to Hollyhead and its branches
   Armitt Library : A6632.67 -- map -- Kingdome of Scotland
   Armitt Library : A6632.68 -- map -- Kingdome of Ireland
   Armitt Library : A6632.69 -- map -- Province of Mounster
   Armitt Library : A6632.70 -- map -- Countie of Leinster
   Armitt Library : A6632.71 -- map -- Province of Connaugh
   Armitt Library : A6632.72 -- map -- Province Ulster, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.73 -- map -- New and Accurat Map of the World
   Armitt Library : A6632.74 -- map -- Asia
   Armitt Library : A6632.75 -- map -- Africae
   Armitt Library : A6632.76 -- map -- Europ
   Armitt Library : A6632.77 -- map -- America
   Armitt Library : A6632.78 -- map -- Greece -- Ellas
   Armitt Library : A6632.79 -- map -- New Mappe of the Romane Empire
   Armitt Library : A6632.80 -- map -- Newe Mape of Germany
   Armitt Library : A6632.81 -- map -- Bohemia
   Armitt Library : A6632.82 -- map -- France
   Armitt Library : A6632.83 -- map -- New Mape of the 17 Provinces of Low Germany -- Belgia
   Armitt Library : A6632.84 -- map -- Spaine
   Armitt Library : A6632.85 -- map -- Italia
   Armitt Library : A6632.86 -- map -- Mape of Hungari
   Armitt Library : A6632.87 -- map -- Kingdome of Denmarke
   Armitt Library : A6632.88 -- map -- Newe Mape of Poland
   Armitt Library : A6632.89 -- map -- Kingdome of Persia
   Armitt Library : A6632.90 -- map -- Turkish Empire, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.91 -- map -- Kingdome of China, The
   Armitt Library : A6632.92 -- map -- Newe Mape of Tartary
   Armitt Library : A6632.93 -- map -- Mapp of the Sommer Ilands -- Bermuda
   Armitt Library : A6632.94 -- map -- Map of Virginia and Maryland
   Armitt Library : A6632.95 -- map -- Map of New England and New York
   Armitt Library : A6632.96 -- map -- Map of Jamaica -- Barbados
   Armitt Library : A6632.97 -- map -- New Description of Carolina
   Armitt Library : A6632.98 -- map -- New Map of East India
   Armitt Library : A6632.99 -- map -- Map of Russia
   Armitt Library : A6632.100 -- map -- Canan -- Palestine
   Armitt Library : ALMC2008.14.5 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale *
   Armitt Library : ALMC2008.14.8 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Carlisle Library : Map 1 -- map -- Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described
   Carlisle Library : Map 21 -- map -- Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described
   Carlisle Library : Map 66 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Carlisle Library : Map 235 -- street map -- View of Antient Carlisle
   Carlisle Library : Map 306 -- map -- Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described
   Carlisle Library : Map 315 -- map -- Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described
   Carlisle Library : Map 348 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Dove Cottage : 2007.38.14 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 1 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 99 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 100 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 101 -- map -- Countie Westmorland and Kendale the Cheif Towne -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 113 -- map -- Kendale
   Kendal Library : Map 114 -- map -- Kingdome of England
   private collection (16) -- map -- Cumberland and the Ancient Citie Carlile Described -- Carlile *
   private collection (85) -- map -- Kingdome of Great Britaine and Ireland