The Old Map Company of Great Britain Old County Maps of Elizabethan England & The Empire of Great Britain by one John Speede Esq. A Unique Collection DIRECT FROM THE PUBLISHERS TOWN PLANS AND ANTIQUE MAPS FROM GREAT BRITAIN AND AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD! Unique, authentic antique reproductions from originals created between 1610 and 1623, as part of the most famous Atlas of the period. The accuracy and quality of these antique maps was not surpassed for centuries. These maps are presented on an antiqued parchment entirely in keeping with their historic nature. Each map is beautifully engraved and crammed with quite extraordinary detail. navigate via the map opposite or click here for a full list of titles John Speede's County Maps of Elizabethan England. Authentic antique reproductions from originals created between 1610 and 1623, as part of the most famous Atlas of the period. The accuracy and quality of these antique maps was not surpassed for centuries. These maps are presented on an antiqued parchment entirely in keeping with their historic nature. A Most Unusual Gift Idea for a Man Each map is beautifully engraved and crammed with detail. The maps measure approximatly 18" x 14" and reach you in a presentation tube. A customer writes: "Thank you for the antique map of The Invasions of England Wales & Ireland. I have greatly enjoyed this old map. I would now like to purchase two further old maps - Warwickshire and The World. Thank you for such a wonderful series" (This and hundreds of other un-solicited testimonials are held at our offices.) “... And Everyone Who Sees Your John Speed Old Map Will Compliment You On Your Good Taste!” Quite frankly our old maps are not for everyone. You see, what sets our customers apart is their appreciation of the finer things in life. After all, surrounding yourself with intriguing objects shows that you’re a person with many varied interests. Which is exactly the impression you’ll be giving with one of our prestigiousAntique Maps on your wall! You’ll Find The Map Looks, Feels And Smells Like A 400 Year Old Original... Let’s face it. When you’re buying a John Speed map you want it to look as old as an original one does. And not one that looks mass-produced! Each map is faithfully reproduced on specially crafted paper, then hand-treated giving it texture, aged aroma and the appearance of an old historical document. In fact, unless you’re an expert, our Old Maps look exactly like an original! And all because of our secret process for ageing our maps. Our satisfied customers include: St. Paul’s Cathedral, The Greenwich Maritime Museums, Madame Tussauds, The National Trust, Exeter Cathedral, Edinburgh Castle and many other famous attractions worldwide. When you buy your Old Map you’ll be acquiring your own piece of history. Which other people will view as an old treasured heirlooms handed down from generation to generation. Which is why K.P. Vale of Glamorgan put in an order. “Here is an order for a further 7. They are to be placed in files with our family histories”! You’ll find Old Maps make ideal gifts whether for birthdays, weddings or anniversaries... and an unusual gift idea for any man “It is a wedding present for a friend.” R.O. Denmark “I am absolutely delighted with the my antique map. It is so interesting. I would now like to purchase another Map for my sister as a Christmas present.” K.H. Middlewhich “My son would now like one for Christmas.” M.F. Leicestershire Or even for research purposes... “Thank you so much for your kind help, I look forward to receiving my antique map to help my daughter with school project work in relation to this area of the country.” S.C. Warwickshire. Your Old Map...An Ancient Parchment, Rich In History... Imagine getting your hands on, owning and being able to read a fabled centuries old scroll... Faithfully recorded by learned scholars of that age. Those time-yellowed dusty parchments that are so rich in detail of civilizations long since lost... That’s exactly what you’ll be getting with an antique map Just as R.C. of London discovered. “Such historical antique maps are invaluable to scholars and a service to academics studying the evolution of medieval towns and cities through the centuries. I enclose an order for a further 5 maps.” Amaze your friends with the knowledge you’ll gain: Country borders...discover how big some countries really were...And how much they’ve shrunk over the centuries. You’ll find out exactly how big the Roman Empire was, in its heyday. Which counties have disappeared out of sight. See the towns which were the ‘cities’ of their day and trace their history back centuries... And the ones that simply disappeared. Indeed a unique and unusual gift idea for any man. You’ll Be Transported Back In Time... What you’ll be getting is an Old Map that’ll fascinate and enthral every man. You’ll be transported back centuries...into a world of fascinating sea creatures... Ships that were weighed down with treasure or trading commodities. Old English town names that have long since perished... Boundaries that have disappeared ...Languages that have radically changed – though you’ll still recognise many of the town names. 100% Full Money Back Guarantee on these Unusual Gift Ideas for a Man If for any reason whatsoever you aren’t completely delighted with your Old Map, simply return the item to us, and your payment will be refunded. No questions asked. So why not reserve your map now ? Wherever you decide to hang your Old Map people will always pause to admire its beauty. IMPORTANT NOTICE Our series of individually created reproduction maps charts & town plans are produced on antiqued parchment by a secret process unique to the Old Map Company ™. We have supplied major heritage sites throughout the UK for some 50 years. No other organization is authorized to market these via the Web web. Therefore we would be grateful to hear of any infringement. Secure site information We offer a secure and fully integrated shopping cart system when ordering your Old Map. The Old Map Company, Sennen Cove, Penzance, Cornwall Telephone (UK) 0870 901 1610 Facsimilie (UK) 0870 901 1067 Email info@oldmap.co.uk Thanks to our good friends Baby Toys UK The Rag Dolls and The Groovy Girls for sponsoring this site! Old Maps of France - Antica fabrique des reproductions de cartes géographiques de l'époque d'Henri IV et de Louis XIII, sur un papier parchemin vieilli de façon artisanale: Sur ces cartes vous découvrirez "vostre" région telle qu'elle était en 1600: les fortifications, les hameaux, les ponts, les moulins, les forêts et rivières, les marais et montagnes www.antica-editions.com More on John Speed "John Speed, who was bred a Tailor, was by the generosity of Sir Fulk Grevil, his patron, set free from a manual employment and enabled to use his studies, to which he was strongly inclined by the bent of his genius. The fruits of them were his Theatre of Great Britain, containing an entire set of maps of the counties drawn by himself, his History of Great Britain, richly adorned with seals, coins & medals, from the Cotton collection; and his Genealogies of Scripture, first bound up with the Bible, in 1611 which was the first edition of the present English translation. His maps were very justly esteemed & his History of Great Britain, was, in its kind incomparably more complete, than all the histories of his predecessors put together ..." Who then would have believed that these fine maps would be still popular as a Christmas Gift in the 17th Century? Speed was born at Farndon, Cheshire, in 1552, and settled in London, in about 1582. He died on July 28th, 1629, and was buried in the Church of St. Giles, in Cripplegate. A monument was erected to him in the church, comprising a bust, flanked by two stone doors, with inscriptions. The doors were destroyed by bombing in the Second World War, but the bust, although damaged, survived. Fortunately, an engraving, from John Thomas Smith's Antiquities of London (London, 1791), depicts the monument and inscriptions. While earning a living as a tailor, Speed developed a strong interest in history, particularly antiquities and genealogies. His first cartographical work, a four sheet wall map of Canaan in Biblical Times, was published in 1595. Shortly after, in 1598, Speed came to the attention of Sir Fulke Greville. Through Greville's patronage, Speed received a sinecure appointment with the Customs Service, which guaranteed him a living, while giving him the freedom to pursue his interests. In the text accompanying his map of Warwickshire, Speed acknowledged this debt: "Whose merits to me-ward I do acknowledge in setting this hand free from the daily employments of a manual Trade, and giving it his liberty thus to express the inclination of my mind, himself being the procurer of my present Estate." Speed was also introduced into Greville's circle of friends, and sponsored for membership of the Society of Antiquaries. There he met many of the greatest scholars of the day, including William Camden, Robert Cotton and William Smith, all of whom later contributed to Speed's work. One can only guess that it was at this time that Speed received the encouragement to undertake his great project - the History of Great Britain, with an accompanying atlas volume, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. In 1600, John Speed donated a number of maps to the Merchant Tailors Company, who noted his "very rare and ingenious capacitie in drawing and setting forth of mappes and genealogies and other very excellent inventions"

***