Munster - John Speed 1676

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• Cartographer - John Speed
• Title - The Province of Munster
• Date - 1676
• Size - 510mm x 385mm 
• Condition - Good, old strengthening to back of centrefold, extending to about a third of the way up page. Puncture hole to bottom right hand corner, repairable. Overall age-toning. Some old margin repairs, not apparent from the front. Attractive restrained handcolour. Later State. Nice Map.

Scarce Early Map of Munster by John Speed

A wonderful example of John Speed's important map of Munster, published in 1676

Speed's maps of Ireland are amongst the most collectable and recognisable of all early maps of Ireland, and are highly sought after by collectors. 

As with all Speed maps, the decorative embellishments are particularily attractive. From the cartouche, to the boy playing a harp riding a sea monster off the Kerry coast this is a spectacular map.

Of course, it was the addition of town plans to his county maps for his atlas the Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine which singled out Speed as a great innovator and this map illustrates his work wonderfully with the two large plans of the cities of Cork and Limerick.

These town plans for the Theatre of the Empire.. were in fact the first collection of townplans of these islands, and the Theatre itself can also claim pride of place as being the first proper full scale atlas of the British Isles. The maps were engraved in Amsterdam by Jodocus Hondius

Early Map of Munster by Speed 1676

Reference : Bonar Law - John Speed Maps of Ireland  - 1676

Item ID: 15417-93

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