Coloured map of Cornwall taken from the first edition of John Speed’s “Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain” published by Sudbury & Humble. One of the most decorative and recognisable of all Speed’s county maps, it is based on the work of John Norden rather than Christopher Saxton. The map contains a prospect of the ancient town of Launceston along with ships, sea monsters, Cornish antiquities and the arms of the noble families of the county. A description of the county appears on the verso in English. Other than a faint library stamp top right and some discolouration in “Lesnowth Hundred”, a beautifully coloured, dark impression on heavy stable paper in excellent condition. 38 cm x 51 cm