John Speed's "Map of Wiltshire" 1662 edition..
Copperplate engraving. Fine hand colouring. Overall size : 50.5x 38cm. Plan of Salisbury at top left with coats of arms below. Vignette of Stonehenge at top right with brief description below. Scale of miles at bottom right. English text to verso. Centre fold as issued. Slight age toning in margins. Published by Roger Rea, approximately 1662 edition.
John Speed's map of Wiltshire is probably the most famous of mapping errors in British cartographic history.
Just west of Salisbury there appears a town named 'Quare". This is in fact the town of North Burcombe which did not appear on any map until 1775. Quare is the old English word for query, and clearly the engraver of Speed's early map mistook the word in the manuscript draught to be the name of the town and included it on the plates. The mistake was continued by at least a dozen later cartographers, an indication of the reliance of map makers of the period on each other's efforts.
They are from a serious collector, who has collected for years. He is moving and retiring, and selling out a lot of items that he does not get to enjoy much anymore. He has been a map collector for years, and we have offers on just about all his maps. I talked him into letting me show some of these, and if you can better what he already has, then you may end with some of them. It will probably be a one time deal, as I only have access of them for the next 30 days, after that, well they will be sold to buyers who already made really good offers and you only have a little time to see if you want any. They are in great condition, always maintained and in acid free paper, as he knows exactly how to take care of them. If you have any questions about photos, they were shot in a clear acid free plastic, and maybe a little blurry, but he will be glad to answer any and all questions. Please try to keep it serious buyers only, as he does not like his time wasted, and is just doing me a favor by letting me do this. I think that he is underselling them, and that is why I talked him into showing the world what he has for sale. If your really into great ones, and not copies, etc, and in great shape, as he only bought the best of the best. So enjoy what you see, and please ask any questions before bidding. Once sold, they are gone. I have sold a few others of his, and they were great to get them, and some were very surprised at their condition, and price. So enjoy them, and hope that you like them. Great add to any collection you may have. All questions will be answered in a 24 hours. Thanks and enjoy a great piece of history. PLEASE SERIOUS INQUIRES ONLY. IF YOUR A SERIOUS MAP COLLECTOR AND INTERESTED, PLEASE E-MAIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS. THANKS AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM. REMEMBER WE ONLY HAVE THEM FOR 30 DAYS, SO ACT FAST, AS THEY ALREADY HAVE OFFERS, AND THEY WIL GO TO THE OTHER OFFERS. YOU HAVE THIS CHANCE TO GET SOME OF THEM AS WE PUT THEM UP. WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PHOTOS, JUST ASK AND WE WILL SEND THEM TO YOU.
ADDED INFO FROM OWNER OF MAPS, AS HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW ALL ABOUT THE 5 MAPS JUST PUT UP. THIS IS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON CONDITION OF MAPS, ETC. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU. THANKS.
No foxing on either map. Slight age toning, (browning) ,of both, (to be expected), but not objectionable at all.
Cornwall map has one 1.5mm possible wormhole in upper margin. Possible, since there are usually more than
just one. Nonetheless there is a small hole.
No major tears in either. No losses in either.
Wiltshire map has repairs slight tears in a few places only in the margins. Repairs made on the verso. And,
very small pieces of the edges of the margin missing on top right and bottom left just due to age and handling.
1 to 2mm in a few places. Also to be expected.
Cornwall map has a 2 to 3mm piece missing from the upper right margin edge. (W X H)
Slight darkening of the centerfold from the bottom margin about 1 inch wide and up
about 3 inches due to reinforcement on the rear of the centerfold. Possibly due to
non acid free material.
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