John Speed Map of Surrey

I recently got given a rather old and broken map of Surrey by John Speed, and while doing research online got not find a copy like mine anywhere, it’s incredibly fragile and brittle.

Wondering if anyone knows anything about it? Whether it was on display or just a copy that someone made themselves ?

Link to photo as it’s too large: https://imgur.com/a/TGqRln5

 

Maps can be complicated since they were sometimes reproduced many times, so there can be multiple antique editions, as well as modern reproductions. This seems to be from a book first published in 1612, but republished many times up to 1770: http://dg-maps.com/john-speed.html
"Speed took the first step with his home county of Cheshire, completing the map with one of the earliest town plans of Chester, Armes and vignettes which were to become his signature style. Engraved by William Rogers, this map was published individually in 1604. He continued to cover all the counties of England and Wales . The resulting atlas, finally published in 1612, was titled The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine. This remarkable work was published in partnership with the already established house of John Sudbury and George Humble. The Theatre was a great success and was published again many times and by a number of publishers: Sudbury and Humble notably published their second edition of The Theatre in 1627, the last edition to be published before Speed died. Some later, posthumous editions of Speed county maps can be seen published by a number of names: perhaps the most frequently seen of these later editions was by Bassett and Chiswell in 1676. Various other versions by Overton, Rea, Browne and Dicey can be found struck as late as 1770, (please see below)."

Here's one reported to be from a 1676 edition: https://www.antique-maps-online.co.uk/surrey-speed-2447.html
And one for sale now from the first edition: https://www.swangallery.co.uk/map1000416/old-maps/england/surrey/map-by-john-speed.html
Someone who deals with old maps would be able to tell how to distinguish between the different antique editions of this particular map; usually subtle differences in the engraving or coloring or paper type or size. You may be able to figure a lot of it out by searching and comparing online. For example why is yours black and white and the ones online colored - has yours lost the colors or were not all editions colored - you'll find there is lots to research.

You should start by figuring out how old the paper of yours is to be sure it isn't a relatively modern reproduction.

Condition is clearly a problem with your map, and will obviously affect value a great deal if you find yours is antique.

Nice find! I too love old maps.