Coloured map of Middlesex from John Speed’s “Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain”. Considered to be the most decorative map of the county, it includes views of St. Peter’s (Westminster Abbey) and St. Paul’s cathedrals with brief notes on each contained on the open pages of two books. At the top of the map on either side, there are inset plans of London and Westminster and two coats of arms of county nobles were added to the decoration for the B&C edition. As the verso is blank, this map may have either been issued separately or included in a campaigning atlas during the English Civil War. The map has a minor professional repair to a small rust spot, otherwise an excellent example on thick, stable paper. 38.5 cm x 51 cm