Coloured map of Essex taken from the rare Sudbury & Humble Latin edition of John Speed’s “Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain”. Certainly one of the most decorative maps of the county, it has an ornate cartouche displaying three Roman coins showing the heads of the Emperor Constantine and his parents, Constantius and Helena. It also shows inset a plan of the town of Colchester and the arms of the noble families of the county; while the city of London is included at the far south-eastern end of the map. A description of the county appears on the verso in English. Other than some areas of foxing, principally in the bottom margin, a beautifully old coloured example on thick, stable paper in excellent condition. 38.5 cm x 51 cm