Carte-a-figures map of Central Asia and parts of north-eastern Russia and China from the Bassett & Chiswell edition of John Speed’s “A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World”. The map, which is among the most decorative available of this region, shows the area from Moscow and the Caspian Sea in the west to the north-eastern coast of Asia. It clearly shows the Great Wall of China and curiously shows Korea as an island. It is decorated across the top with views of three cities of the silk road, Astrakhan, Samarkand and Cambalu, and an illustration of “The House of Nova Zemla”, which served as the winter quarters of the Dutch explorer, Willem Barentsz when he and his crew were stranded for nearly a year. The panels down both sides depict pairs of men and women of the region in period dress. A description of the Kingdom of Tartary in English appears verso. Other than a repair to a pair of small wormholes in the top centre cartouche, this beautifully coloured map with wide margins is in excellent condition. 39 cm x 51 cm