John Speed

English cartographer, historian and antiquary. Born Farndon in Cheshire and  a member of the guild of Merchant Tailors. His subsequent cartographic career evolved from his interests as both historian and antiquary.

Speed is of considerable importance in the history of English cartography in being the author of two major folio Atlases. The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine, an Atlas of the British Isles and its regions, first published in London in 1611.

This Atlas is best known for the fine county maps, modelled on the earlier Elizabethan surveys of Christopher Saxton and John Norden, which include armorials, local vignettes, and inset town plans (many of which Speed claimed to have surveyed at first hand himself).

His second Atlas, the first World Atlas by an Englishman, entitled A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World, first appeared in London in 1627. It took as its model the Dutch carte-a-figure genre (maps with top and side borders panels of town views and native inhabitants) to portray the countries of the then-known World.

Although Speed died at the age of 77 in 1629, his Atlases continued to be published for a very long period after his death. The World Atlas appeared in numerous editions through to 1676, this final edition being expanded with a number of important new maps (including three of colonial North America) engraved by Francis Lamb.

The British Isles Atlas continued in print even longer, appearing in editions through to the final Dicey edition of c.1770.

John Speed's atlas was issued by different publishers.

Speed himself  turned to the most successful London print-sellers of the day, John Sudbury and George Humble. William Camden introduced the leading Flemish engraver, Jodocus Hondius Sr. to John Speed in 1607 because first choice engraver William Rogers had died a few years earlier. Work commenced with the printed proofs being sent back and forth between London and Amsterdam for correction and was finally sent to London in 1611 for publication. The work was an immediate success and the maps themselves being printed for the next 150 years. 

John Sudbury (fl. 1599 - 1618) was in partnership with his nephew George Humble. Published John Speed Atlas in 1610
   
George Humble (fl. 1603 - 40) Died in 1640
The business bequeathed to George Humble's Son. William Humble (fl. 1640 - 59) Published many editions of the Speed Atlas

Peter Stent (fl. 1641 - 1662) Acquired stock from William Humble but not the Speed plates.
Published the series of anonymous county maps in 1650

William Garrett. His daughter married John Overton. He purchased the Speed plates from William Humble in 1658 - 9. Did not use them but soon sold them to Roger Rea the elder and younger.

Roger Rea, the elder and the younger (fl. 1660 - 67). Published atlases in 1662 and 1665.

Thomas Bassett (fl. 1659 - 93) and Richard Chiswell (fl.1639 - 1711) Purchased the plates from Roger Rea and published an atlas in 1676
Christopher Browne (fl. 1688 - 1712) Purchased the plates and published an atlas. Sold the Speed plates to John Overton.

John Overton (fl. 1665 - 1707) Married the daughter of William Garrett. Acquired stock of Peter Stent in 1665 and acquired Speed plates in 1700 from Christopher Browne. Disposed of his stock to his son Henry Overton in 1707.
Henry Overton (fl.1707 - 49) Published Speed Atlas in 1713 and again in 1743
   
Cluer Dicey (fl. c.1740-1770) Acquired the plates and published the last edition in 1770.

See samples of map by Speed

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