John Speed (1551/2–1629) Nine maps, seven of which are rare ...

Estimate

£200 - £300

John Speed (1551/2–1629) Nine maps, seven of which are rare copies published by Roger Rea 'Worcestershire Described,' later hand coloured, pasted onto card, margins frayed with spotting, inset plan of Worcester, 45cmx 54cm, Henry Overton, London, [c.1743]; 'Huntington Both Shire and Shire Town With The Ancient Citie Ely Described,' uncoloured engraved map, inset town plans of Huntingdon and Ely, later strike, rolled, crumpled to fore edge, small stain mark, 38cm x 50 cm, [c.1662]; 'Buckingham Both Shyre, and Shire towne described,' uncoloured, rolled, tear with loss to Redding plan, 38cm x 52cm, Roger Rea & Elder, London, [1665]; 'The Countie of Radnor Described and the Shyretownes Sittuatione Anno 1610,' uncoloured, rolled, small hole, 39cm x 51cm, Roger Rea, Elder and younger, London, [c.1665]; 'Brenoke Both Shyre and Towne described,' uncoloured, small nibbles to edges, rolled, crease marks, 36cm x 51cm, Roger Rea, Elder and younger, London, [c.1665]; 'Norfolk a Countie Florishing & Populous Described and Devided, with the Armes of such Noble Familes as have borne the titles thereof,' uncoloured, loss to inset plan of Norwiche, rolled, 38cm x 50cm, Roger Rea, London, [c.1665]; 'Glamorgan Shyre With the situations of the chief town Cardyff and ancient Landaffe described,' uncoloured, large hole to foot and worm holes to head, rolled, 38.5cm x 50.5cm, Roger Rea the Elder and younger, London, [c.1665]; 'The Countie of Nottingham described.....,' uncoloured, repair to edge of foot, rolled, 39cm x 50.5cm, Roger Rea the Elder and younger, London, [c.1665]; 'Caermarden Both Shyre and Towne Described,' uncoloured, hole to foot, rolled, 39cm x 50.5cm, Roger Rea the Elder and younger, London, [c.1665]; with three others, all badly damaged with loss. (12) Roger Rea (1606–1665) was an English map seller and publisher from London. His father, John Rea, was likely an exchanging goldsmith, a profession that paved the way for modern banking. Roger began his career apprenticing as a stationer under Peter Cowley before venturing into publishing with his son, also named Roger. The father-and-son duo focused primarily on maps, acquiring the publishing rights to John Speed's famous atlases. They produced several editions of Speed's pocket atlases and, in 1662, published a complete edition of A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World. Their publishing activities may have continued until 1665, but Roger Rea Sr. died during the Great Plague that same year. As a result, Rea's editions of Speed's maps are now rare and prized by collectors.