This striking map of the Southeast region was based on the landmark Lords Proprietor's Map of 1672 by Ogilby/Moxon. It incorporates information from a number of early accounts including Lederer, Hilton, Sandford, Ashley-Cooper and Culpeper. Oriented with north to the right as indicated by the compass rose, the map covers the region from St. Augustine to Cape Charles and Jamestown with detail focused along several rivers. The fictitious Ashley Lake, Deserta Arenosa and a Savana east of the Apalathean Mountains are of particular interest. It is artistically embellished with graphic mountain ranges, a title cartouche, the arms of Charles II and ships. English text on verso contains an interesting account of John Lederer's important explorations. Speed's atlas was the first world atlas produced wholly in England. It was first published in 1627 without any maps of the American colonies. It was not until the last edition (47 years after Speed's death), by Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell, that the new maps of America, engraved by Francis Lamb, were added.

References: Cumming (SE) #77; Goss (NA) #41; Shirley (BL Atlases) T.SPE-2f #26.

Condition: A

A crisp impression with a fleur-de-lis watermark and light show-through of text on verso. Backed with thin, archival tissue with professional repairs to several edge tears, only one of which enters the image 1.5" at top left.