Maps

In 1627 John Speed published A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World which became the first World Atlas produced by an Englishman. One of the maps contained in his Prospect was this splendid New Mape of Tartary 1626. It was one of the only carte-a-figures maps available and is therefore one of the most decorative early maps of Tartary. At the top of the page the cities of Astrachan and Samarkand appear. The sides are engraved with figures in exotic national costumes. The map was originally engraved 1n 1626. The bottom right states “Are to be sold by Thos. Bassett in Fleet Street and Rob. Chiswell at St. Paul's Churchyard.”.  A beautifully coloured engraving of an early silk road map engraved by the Dutch engraver, Dirk Gryp.

The later state of John Speed's carte-a-figure map of Tartary and Central Asia. An early map showing the silk route. Some of the notes are based on Marco Polo.

Condition

Coloured; an old paper repair to the lower margin and other short tears to the edges of the paper, now expertly repaired, overall a good example.

Chater I.2 later state 1676