Atlases

Speculum Britanniae : An HISTORICAL and CHOROGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF MIDDLESEX AND HARTFORDSHIRE. .... By JOHN NORDEN. Illustrated with MAPS curiously engraved by Mr. Senex, .... LONDON: Printed for DANIEL BROWNE Senior and Junior, at the Black Swan without Temple Bar; and JAMES WOODMAN, in Bow-Street Covent Garden. M,DCC,XXIII.

Octavo. (19x24cm) Fine rebind in gold tooled brown morroco by Zaehnsdorf. Bookplate of W. Rolleston Saunders. Formerly held in the University Library of Venice with library stamps to recto and verso of title page only.

Engraved frontispiece Middlesex and Hertfordshire. Title page. 2pp Dedication to William Cecil. Author's introduction. 50pp Description of Middlesex. 2pp letters. Engraved frontispiece Hartfordshire. Dedication to Queen Elizabeth 1st. Engraved armorial. Dedication to William Cecil. Author's introduction. Dedication to Edward Seymour 1st Earl of Hertford. Author's note. Poetic credit by Robert Nicholson. Review H.O. Authors note. 2pp explanation. 16pp Geographical notes. 31pp Description of Hertfordshire. Advertisement. Engraved fold-out map of Hertfordshire. Engraved fold-out map of Middlesex. Engraved fold-out map of Westminster. Engraved fold-out map of London. 

Contents very clean throughout, all maps edge-bound at the back of the book with two folds, in very good condition with only light occasional toning. There is no evidence that these maps were ever bound at the centrefold as usual.
The four maps, engraved by John Senex, are close copies of the first issues drawn by John Norden published in 1593 [Middlesex, London & Westminster] and 1598 [Hertfordshire].
An exceptional copy in a fine rebind by Zaehnsdorf.