With its distinctive shape and
coastline providing ample opportunity to embellish the map with a variety of
ships and sea creatures of various shapes and sizes, Cornwall is one of the
most spectacular and recognizable maps present in Speed’s “Theater of the
Empire of Great Britaine”

Geographically, a medallion on
the upper left states that the map was “described by the travills of John
Norden and augmented and published by John Speed.” Norden was a well known
mapmaker and surveyor in the 17th century with a strong connection
to the powerful Cecil family. This was instrumental in obtaining several royal
appointments, including being named the “Surveyor to the Duchy of Cornwall” in
1605. Speed used several other surveys by Norden, suggesting co-operation
between the two men. 

The inset of the town of
Launceston on the upper left was from a different source. The town is situated
in the middle of the Eastern border of the county and thus often perceived as
being the gateway to Cornwall. Its first use as a vignette was by William Kip,
in the 1607 edition of William Camden’s “Britannia.” There is some suggestion
that Kip may have also used a survey of the town by Norden, which is now only
known in manuscript form in the British Library. There is certainly no record
of Norden producing a combination of his own surveys of Cornwall and Launceston. 

The right border illustrates
several pre-historic monuments situated in Cornwall, including “The Hurlers”, a
stone circle on Bodmin Moor. The lower border is embellished with a row of
heraldic shields connected to the county and the upper centre is dominated by a
huge cartouche of the royal coats of arms, emphasizing the royal connection of
the county as the Duchy of Cornwall, which is traditionally a title given to the
Prince of Wales.

First edition. Strong impression. English text on reverse. Image available upon request.