Coloured county map of Lancashire taken from the first edition of John Speed’s “Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain” published in 1611 by John Sudbury and George Humble and engraved by Jodocus Hondius. One of the most desirable of all Speed’s county maps, it is highlighted with portraits of the York and Lancastrian kings and queens involved in the 15th century Wars of the Roses, which resulted in the fall of the Plantagenet reign and creation of the Tudor dynasty. A plan of the city of Lancaster with a key identifying 22 important sites is placed top right and the map is further decorated with the royal coat of arms, sailing ships and sea monsters. A description of the county appears on the verso in Latin. Other than a tiny pin-hole in near the centre of the map, it is a finely coloured, dark impression on heavy stable paper in excellent condition. 38 cm x 51 cm