A finely coloured county map of Sussex taken from the first edition of John Speed’s “Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain” published by John Sudbury and George Humble. Engraved by Jodocus Hondius, the map contains a plan of Chichester along with a key identifying important landmarks in the city, and a description of the Norman invasion of 1066. The map is further decorated with a title cartouche in the shape of an open book, the royal coat of arms together with those of the noble families of the county and numerous sailing ships and sea monsters. A description of the county appears on the verso in English. Other than a repair to a bottom centrefold split and a repair/replacement of a portion of the bottom margin that just enters printed border, the map is a strong dark impression on heavy paper in very good condition. 38.5 cm x 50.5 cm