Description
Antique Map East Indies by Speed titled ‘A New Map of EAST INDIA. Sold by Tho: Bafset in Fleet ftreet. And Richard Chifwell in St. pauls Churchyard’.
A very scarce mid- to late 17th century English map of India, South-east Asia and the East Indies in old colour by John Speed (c. 1552 – 1629) based on Frederick De Wit’s map of 1662, that was engraved by Francis Lamb for the last edition of John Speed’s popular world atlas A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World and published by Thomas Basset and Richard Chiswell in their St. Paul’s Churchyard premises in 1676. It was published 47 years after the death of John Speed. Most of the maps in the atlas had been engraved by Dutch engravers like Abraham Goos for the 1627 edition; however this is one of six maps appearing for the first time engraved by the Englishman Francis Lamb, they showed areas that had gained in importance because of England’s increased role abroad. Much of the information is very generalized due to Dutch secrecy about the region which the British were keen to gain control over. The great rivers of Southeast Asia except the Mekong are shown as having their source in the mythical Lake Chiamay in China. A prominent feature in northern India is the royal road of the Moguls between Agra and Lahore, shown as a broad tree-lined route. The English text on the verso is full of fascinating historical and cultural detail such as : The Indian people are …for the most part long-liv’d , even many times to the age of 130 years; notwithstanding their addiction, above all other people in the World , to luxury and venereal exercises.”
Some faint toning, an old repair on the bottom centre-fold and some minor edge chipping well away from the map; measures 380 x 501 mm. The English text on the verso is full of fascinating historical and cultural detail such as : The Indian people are …for the most part long-liv’d , even many times to the age of 130 years; notwithstanding their addiction, above all other people in the World , to luxury and venereal exercises.
Artist: J. Speed
Year: 1676
Purchase Code: M1614 – BGW
SOLD
