A very attractive example from the most prestigious English world atlas of the seventeenth century by John Speed (1552-1629). This map is the FIRST AVAILABLE MAP OF BERMUDA and was compiled by Richard Norwood in 1622. Only two printed maps pre-date its issue; Andre Thevet’s fictitious map of c.1586 surviving in just one example and John Smith’s extremely rare map of 1624. It shows the islands divided into Tribes and Lots. It became the model for numerous later maps of the island including those of Blaeu, Jansson and Ogilby. Directly below the title is an image of Bermuda to show more accurately its scale with regard to the mainland shown in the upper corners. It was engraved by Abraham Goos and has English text on the verso. On the map itself the text below lists the names of the ‘tribes’ on the island all named after original Virginia Company members.

Speed is the most famous of all the English map-makers. His two most celebrated publications are ‘The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain’ covering the British Isles, first published in 1611[12] and the ‘Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World’, first published in 1627. Speed was a tailor by profession with a great interest in history and maps. He wanted to produce an English atlas of the same high standards and quality as those published on the continent.

The ‘Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World’ was published in 1627, two years before the death of Speed. Ownership of the atlas passed through various hands until sometime after 1668 when Roger Rea sold the rights to Thomas Bassett and Richard Chiswell. Bassett was a specialist in legal books and Chiswell was the publisher for the Royal Society. The final 1676 edition of the ‘Prospect’ includes eight further maps on seven sheets appearing for the first and only time. MCC 19 (Palmer) #6; Palmer, M. (Bermuda maps) pp. 25-26, state 2.Phillips ‘Atlases’ 488; Shirley BL T.Spe 1j; Skelton 92; Wing S4886.