John Speed (1552-1629) is arguably the most famous English cartographer. His Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain was first published in 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 last and most complete ‘regular’ edition was published by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell in 1676. Following that they 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. Speed’s maps are noted for being the first to include the boundaries of the hundreds, and for introducing town plans on the maps, in this case a fine one of Hereford. The imprint of Bassett and Chiswell is here replaced by that of Henry Overton. Provenance: Phillips London 11 December 1997 lot 53 an incomplete composite Henry Overton atlas. Smith (2004) pp. 65-6; Hodson (1984-97) 138; Shirley (2004) T.Spe 1n; Smith Hereford pp. 67-8.