AFRICÆ, described, | the manners of their Ha | bits, and buildinge: newly | done into English by I. S. | and published at the cha: | rges of G. Humble Ano 1626.

Original copperplate printed map
Fine Handcolor
39.5 x 51.5 cm.
Map #AFS-158             
$4,750

Click Here for Larger Image

This is the first English map of the continent of Africa.  Its author is John Speed (c.1552-1629) a noted English historian and mapmaker who worked from about 1592 at St. Paul's Churchyard in London.  He is mostly known as the author of a history of Great Britain with accompanying maps and A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World with maps of the world, the four continents, and regions of the world.  This map of Africa is closely based on the 1619 and 1623 maps of Africa by Jodocus Hondius Jr. published separately in Amsterdam. Many of the Hondius text legends which are in Latin on his map appear in English on this map. Like the two Hondius maps, the geography for Speed's map is copied from Willem Blaeu's folio-size map of 1617 which was based on a reduction of Blaeu's wall map of 1608. The geography for this map of Africa remained unchanged in all editions of Speed's Prospect from 1626 to 1676.  There are three states of this map.  This particular map is from the first state of 1626.  It was used in the first edition of the atlas of 1627, with last line of penulltimate paragraph as "belonging to Africa".

The two side borders contain "typical" figures of Africans. Top panel contains eight city views.  These are from the top left: MAROCCHIANS, SENAGENSIAN, Marc: in GVINEA, Cab: Iopo Gonsalvi Accolae, soul: CONGENSIS. From the top right: AEGYPTIAN, ABISSINIAN, MOZAMBIQVEAN, K: MADAGASCAR, habi:of cape of goodhope.   English text of Africa on verso.  This map was engraved by the noted Dutch engraver, Abraham Goos, whose imprint is at the bottom left of the map.

Fascinating text on the verso describes the "then current" information on Africa.   It is suggested that, if this map is purchased to be framed, conservation glass or plexi-glass should be used on the verso so that this side can be read also. 

Reference:  Betz Map # 62.3,  Norwich Map # 30, Tooley, p.113-4.

Very Good Condition.   One repaired separation entering map to left of top centerfold.  The map has very good margins (often the Speed map is found cropped close to the outer neatline; this is not the case in this example).  The map itself is clean and very attractive.