Map of Scotland,
1662
John Speed - The Kingdom
of Scotland. [London]: R Rea
( elder & younger),
[1662]
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In
1611-12 John Speed, an Englishman, published
The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain in four volumes, the
first published atlas of the British Isles. The map of Scotland is
based on the work of the Dutch mapmaker, Gerard Mercator, published
in 1595. In the 1611 edition of Speed's atlas, the map of Scotland
is dated 1610 and shows four royal figures in two vertical decorated
borders (James VI and I, Queen Anne and their two sons).Subsequent editions up to 1652 include
the same figures, but political expediency caused the publisher to
re-engrave the figures on the plate about 1662, replacing royalty
with four Scots in Highland and Lowland dress. The checked garments
worn by the Highland man and woman are considered to be one of the
earliest depictions of tartan. | |
