Beschreibung:

SPEED, John (1552-1629). The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. London, 1627-[46]. 4 parts in one volume. Engraved architectural title in pt. I, engraved armorial plate by Hondius dated 1614 on verso of list of Kingdoms, full-page woodcut Royal arms in each part, printed titles in parts II-IV, 67 double-page engraved maps including 47 of England and the adjacent islands, 14 of Wales, one of Scotland and 5 of Ireland, after Christopher Saxton, John Norden William White William Smith and Thomas Durham, engraved by Hondius and others. (Some maps with repairs along margins, occasionally with loss or touching image, some crude, a few leaves lightly waterstained, some browning and soiling.) [ Bound after the same author’s :] A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World. London: by John Dawson for George Humble, 1631. Engraved portrait of Speed by S. Savery, double-page engraved map of the world and 22 double-page maps by Abraham Goos, Dirck Grÿp and Cornelis Dankerts. (Some crude repairs, mostly along margins but also affecting images, map of Germany waterstained, map of Asia creased and soiled, some browning and soiling throughout.) 2 works in one volume, 2° (417 x 300 mm). 18th-century blue polished calf, panelled in blind and gilt with wide roll-tool borders, spine gilt in compartments, red lettering-piece (rubbed, a little scuffed). Provenance : 'Presented to Allan Heyward Bright by his uncle Henry Yates Thompson on his marriage June 1885 being a volume from the Library of his great-grandfather Joseph Brooks Yates Esq of West Dingle Liverpool' (presentation inscription on blank, followed by a long quote from Pepys’s Diary – A.H. Bright (bookplate). Chubb XXV. Sold not subject to return.