This desirable and beautiful double-hemispheric world map carries the imprint of Roger Rea. The map is dated 1651 but it was known to be published in 1662 with this imprint. This map is based on William Grent's rare, separately issued map of 1625 (Shirley #313). It is considered one of the earliest published world maps to be printed in English, and is the first atlas map to show the cartographic curiosity of California as an island, which persisted for nearly 100 years. It was also one of the first to show the settlement of New Plymouth. The coastline in North America is blank east of California and swings wildly to the west in the northern regions of Canada and Alaska. The Straits of Magellan are inaccurately shown and Tierra de Fuego is left open to the west. The Southerne Unknowne Land shows the large conjectured continent covering much of the southern hemisphere. The map is beautifully engraved and highly detailed throughout. The engraver is unknown but Shirley acknowledges it was most likely Abraham Goos. This highly decorative production is surrounded by two celestial hemispheres, figural allegorical representations of Water, Earth, Air and Fire, plus portraits of Ferdinand Magellan, Oliver vander Noort, Thomas Cavendish and Sir Francis Drake. The corners are filled with an astronomical table, an armillary sphere, and eclipses of the sun and moon. With several lengthy notes including comments on the South Pole and the Straits of Magellan, Sir Francis Drake and others. Related English text on verso is "The generall Description of the World." Shirley says this map was not as widely disseminated as those from contemporary Dutch cartographers and was uncommon outside the UK. Consequently its "rarity value" continues to increase.

References: Shirley #317; Shirley (BL Atlases) T.SPE-2d.

Condition: B+

A dark impression with light show-through of text on verso and minor soiling. Professionally backed in thin tissue to lend support, as Speed's maps were typically printed on very thin paper. There are professional repairs to a short centerfold separation at bottom and two tears at left - one which enters 1/2" into image near Magellan's portrait, and the other that enters less than 2" into the sun just below. Three chips at bottom have also been professionally repaired with period correct paper, with a small amount of border skillfully replaced in facsimile.