Wallia Principatus vulgo Wales

Glorious example of Blaeu’s map of Wales adorned with ships, sea monsters and armorial shields.

As usual, the geography for this map is based on John Speed’s map first published in 1611. Speed, in turn, based his map on Saxton’s map published in 1579. Saxton’s map, actually a large map of England and Wales, had been painstakingly put together over a period of six years from an actual survey and thus far superior to any other map previously published. Such was its accuracy, that it remained a template for maps of both England and Wales and just Wales for the next two hundred years.

Speed’s map was the first of just Wales using this new geography and thus acted as a specific template after its publication. Blaeu’s map, published approximately thirty-five years after Speed, dispenses with the illustrated borders present on the 1611 map but adds large and vibrant armorial coats of arms, appertaining to major towns in the principality, including Bangor and St. Davids on the centre right. There is also a large dedication on the lower right, surmounted by the armorial shield of the United Kingdom, to Charles, Prince of Great Britain and Wales; as this map was published during the Civil War, this would be the future Charles II.

Original colour. Dutch text on reverse. Image available on request. [WCTS1451]