A classic map of the county of Northamtonshire by John Speed (1552-1629) in the first edition, 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 and had the plates engraved by Jodocus Hondius in Amsterdam. The book took several years to prepare, hence an earlier proof of this county exists. His maps are noted for being the first to include the boundaries of the hundreds, and for introducing town plans on the maps, here being the towns of Northampton and Peterborough. Shirley (2004) T.Spe 1b; Skelton (1970) 7; Whitaker (1948) 23.