Batsford is publishing Britain’s Tudor Maps: County by County this autumn, a beautiful new edition of John Speed’s atlas from 1611
Britain’s Tudor Maps: County by County reproduces the beautiful illustrations of John Speed’s 1611 collection The Theatre of Great Britaine. Each a work of art in its own right, these richly detailed maps show the counties of Great Britain as they existed at the time, complete with a wealth of heraldic decoration, detailed illustrations and royal portraits.
With an introduction by Nigel Nicolson setting the maps and the author in context, each map is presented alongside an engaging commentary by Alasdair Hawkyard, which elaborates on both the topographical features and the prevailing social conditions of each country at the time. Britain’s Tudor Maps: County by County provides a fascinating insight into how the physical and social landscape of the British Isles has been transformed over time.
