This map is by arguably the most famous English cartographer, John Speed (1552-1629) and first published in the ‘Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain’, 1612. It was the first atlas of the whole British Isles. He was a tailor by trade and had a fascination for history. He used numerous sources for the counties and had the plates engraved by Jodocus Hondius in Amsterdam. The book took several years to prepare hence earlier dates appear on some. This issue is from the extremely rare post Bassett and Chiswell edition by Henry Overton in ‘England Fully Described’, 1743. Speed’s maps are noted for being the first to include the boundaries of the hundreds, and for introducing town plans on the maps. This includes inset views of Richmond and Nonsuch Palaces with Coats-of-arms at the sides.

Following the Bassett and Chiswell edition of 1676 the plates were sold by Christopher Browne of which only a handful of examples bound together exist. Browne disposed of them it is believed in 1713 upon his retirement. Despite Skelton citing their ownership by Henry’s father John Overton c.1700 the evidence appears otherwise. The date 1713 is arrived at by the fact that the last known advert by Browne was in the ‘Daily Courant’ 14 August 1712 and by 1715 his shop was occupied by George Willdey. Also in 1713 Henry Overton abandoned his scheme for a series of county maps and ceased production of newly engraved plates. There are four distinct issues by Overton over some thirty years. This is an example of 1743 edition of Overton following the removal of ‘1610’ from Hondius’ imprint lower left. Hodson 138; Shirley (2004) T.Spe 1n.