This stunning atlas printed in 1672 and later hand coloured is set to fetch record-breaking £100,000 at auction tomorrow.
The beautiful book was prudently purchased in 1949 for £250 - and now the widow of the buyer has decided to sell it.
Auctioneers say the sought-after coloured atlas is a "once in a lifetime experience" and they have never sold one for such as large sum before.
Record breaking: This stunning atlas was printed in 1672 and later hand coloured and is expected to fetch £100,000
For sale: The beautiful book was prudently purchased in 1949 for £250 - and now the widow of the buyer has decided to sell it
JOHN SPEED: ALL MAPPED OUT
John Speed was born in Cheshire in 1552.
He worked as an apprentice tailor under his father before moving to London in his late teens.
He worked as an apprentice tailor under his father before moving to London in his late teens.
There he began mixing with the academic society of the City and began pursuing his interest in history and map-making.
His first map, of Canaan, was published in 1595 and he joined the College of Antiquaries and gained the patronage of Sir Fulk Greville.
Then he created a comprehensive atlas of the British Isles, and the first county map produced - of his native Cheshire in 1604
His atlas was completed and published in 1612 and provide some of the earliest accounts of many British towns.
Later, he developed a 22 map world atlas 'A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' published in 1627 which was later revised and updated.
The publication records in 96 maps the entire world and is two of cartographer John Speed's published works printed as one.
It begins with the 'Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain, Presenting an Exact Geography of the Kingdom of England, Scotland, Ireland and the Isles adjoyning.'
And attached to it is 'A Prospect of the most Famous Parts of the World... With many Additions never before Extant.'
The two volumes were put together and printed in 1672, some years after the great map-maker's death.
This is the first time they appeared as one and includes eight new maps of Virginia and Maryland, New England, Carolina, Jamaica and Barbados, East India, Russia and Canaan.
These atlases rarely turn up for sale and this is unique because it has been painstakingly hand-coloured - probably in the 18th century.
The colours are superbly vivid still and turn black and white outlines into a magnificent work of art.
Speed is one of the nation's greatest cartographers and modern facsimiles of his work are popular to buy in order to frame and put on walls.
Detailed: This atlas records in 96 maps the entire world and is two of cartographer John Speed's published works printed as one
Sought after: The two volumes were put together and printed in 1672, some years after great map-maker John Speed's death
The second part of the atlas was the first world atlas produced by an Englishman.
The book is being sold by Dominic Winter auctions near Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
Chris Albury from the saleroom said, 'We are all very excited.
'The atlas is absolutely sumptuous from beginning to end and is an absolute prize for map and atlas collectors alike.
Worldwide: This is the first time the two editions have appeared as one and include eight new maps of Virginia and Maryland, New England, Carolina, Jamaica and Barbados, East India, Russia and Canaan
'To see a complete uncoloured copy of this most prestigious atlas is always exciting. To see one come on the market with expert early hand colouring throughout is a once in a lifetime experience.
'Speed has been justly fashionable among map collectors worldwide for four hundred years and that makes this special atlas a collector's trophy of utmost value.
'We believe it was coloured in the 18th century and we've not found one that has sold for more than our estimate.
All mapped out: The book is being sold by Dominic Winter auctions near Cirencester, Gloucestershire
'It is of interest to book collectors but also to those who love travel, exploration and cartography.
'It would be nice to think it will be bought by a book lover rather than someone who will break it up to sell the maps individually.
'It was bought just after the war for £250 and the widow of the buyer is selling it.
'We can't find any John Speed atlas that has sold for more than our estimate which is between £70,000 and £100,000'.
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