This handsome title page comes from Blaeu's atlas of British maps. At the top of the page is the leonine Royal Arms of England, capped with a crown, flanked by a lion and Welsh griffin, and enclosed by a banner reading "Honi soit qui mal y pense" (roughly: "Evil unto him who thinks evil of it"). Below is an architectural form with niches inspired by the title page of John Speed's atlas of British maps. Each niche is filled by a figure standing for one of Britain's cultural ancestors: a Roman, a Saxon, a Dane, and a Norman. In the center is the archetypal ancient Briton, tattooed and brandishing a spear. Title imprint is pasted onto the sheet, as was common at the time of publication.

References: Shirley (TP) #46A; Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #2:24.

Condition: A

A bold impression with contemporary color and striking gilt highlights. There is marginal soiling and remnants of hinge tape on verso.