Beschreibung:

SPEED, John. The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine . . . as also A Prospect of the most famous Parts of the World . London: Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, 1676. 5 parts in one volume. 2° (430 x 290mm). Engraved additional title and arms of Charles II, title printed in red and black, 4 section titles, the Theatre with 68 double-page engraved maps of the Counties of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, 61 hand-coloured at a later date. The Prospect with 28 double-page engraved maps of various parts of the world. (Occasional light browning to margins, clean tear to upper margin of Invasions map, two maps in the Prospect slightly shaved.) Modern speckled calf (rubbed, upper cover detached). Provenance : George Henderson (armorial bookplate). A tall clean copy of the only edition with a general title-page for both the Theatre and Prospect. The Prospect includes the World map, Continents and 6 maps of America, 4 of which appear for the first time. Chubb XXVII; Wing S4886; Skelton 92.