16 
H. G. FORDHAM-HERTFORDSHIRE MAPS. 
the impression of 1611, and has the same booksellers’ imprint, hut 
no date. Several of the maps in this first issue want much of the 
marginal details which were afterwards inserted, and have con¬ 
siderable blank spaces in consequence. The ‘ Theatre ’ was first 
published in 1611-12 as the Chorographical Part of Speed’s 
‘ History of Great Britaine ’ (in four hooks, of which the first three 
are dated 1611, and the fourth, Ireland, 1612), the ‘History’ 
itself being distinguished as the Historicall Part and divided into 
six hooks. The whole work, in this edition, has continuous pagina¬ 
tion. The text of Hertfordshire and the map of the county form 
chapter xx of Book 1, and the letterpress is paged 39 and 40. 
The ‘ Theatre ’ and ‘ History ’ both appear separately in many 
later editions of various dates. The full title of the first edition 
of the ‘ Theatre ’ is as follows:—• The Theatre of the Empire of 
Great Britaine : Presenting An Exact Geography of the Kingdomes 
of England, Scotland, Ireland, and the Isles adiovning: with the 
Shires, Hundreds, Cities and Shire townes, within y e Kingdome 
of England, divided and described By John Speed. Imprinted at 
London Anno Cum Privilegio 1611. And are to he solde by John 
Sudbury and Georg Humble, in Popes-head alley at y e signe of y e 
White horse.’ Of the ‘ Theatre,’ and of the maps contained in 
it, there are a great number of editions running over a period of 
more than a century. Individual maps of Herts are difficult to 
identify with the editions to which they belong, as the maps are 
unaltered (beyond the insertion of roads in the later editions) except 
as regards the booksellers’ imprint, and the text on the hack. 
Some of the later editions of the maps are simple atlases without 
descriptive text. So far as has been possible, these various impres¬ 
sions of the map of Hertfordshire are arranged and dated in this 
Catalogue, hut in some cases there is considerable doubt as to their 
identification, and I cannot say with any certainty that my list is 
exhaustive. 
(Reprinted 1614 (Theatre), 1616 (Theatrum, Latin text), 1627 
(Theatre), 1646 (Theatrum, Latin text), 1650 and 1657 (?) 
(Theatre), 1662 and 1666 (without text), 1676 (Theatre), and 
1713 and 1736 (without text).) 
* 1614. Speed, John. 20 x 15. Scale, 2^ miles = 1 inch. 
Engraved by Jodocus Hondius. 
Probably an unaltered impression of the map of 1611, with the 
same imprint. 
This is from the second edition of the ‘Theatre,’ London, 1614, 
folio. The title-page is that of the first edition, redated, hut with 
the same imprint. I have not seen a copy of this edition, and 
cannot therefore fix the map by the indications mentioned under 
the first edition. 
* 1616. Speed, John. 20 x 15. Scale, 2| miles = 1 inch. 
Engraved by Jodocus Hondius. 
An unaltered impression of the map of 1611, with the same 
imprint. Distinguishable by the Latin text on back. There is no 
