Jean Le Clerc (1560-c.1621) was an engraver, bookseller, and publisher who spent a number of years in Tours before moving to Paris sometime around 1594. This very rare map is derived from the Abraham Ortelius – Christopher Saxton map of 1603, itself ultimately from Saxton’s map of 1579. This example is in the second state with his name present. The first is extremely rare. It replicates Saxton’s map of England of 1579 in a beautifully engraved style. A naval battle is taking place off the Cornish coast. Le Clerc is most noted for his separately published set of continental maps c.1602. In 1619 Le Clerc re-issued Maurice Bouguereau’s ‘Theatre Francois’ of 1594 as the ‘Theatre Geographique du Royaume de France’ and included many new plates. A good example of a beautifully engraved map often found in poor condition. Provenance: Clive A. Burden Ltd. 2009; private English collection. Kelly (2007); Loeb-Larocque (1989); Pastoureau (1984) Le Clerc; Shirley (1991) 271.