Coloured map of Essex from the first Sudbury & Humble 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. A finely coloured example on thick, stable paper in excellent condition. 38.5 cm x 51 cm