This large volume is a reprint of John Speed's 1627 reissue of the "Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine", the first English attempt at creating a large scale atlas. Born in Cheshire, Speed developed his interest in maps in the 1580s, presenting a selection to Elizabeth I in 1598. Following the accession of James I in 1603, Speed began producing maps for the King, leading to his acquaintance with noted historians such as William Camden and Robert Cotton. By working with these figures, Speed was able to do a large amount of research for his own work.
First published in 1606, the "Theatre", as well as being the first English atlas of the British Isles, was also one of the first attempts to accurately survey Ireland and to incorporate a comprehensive list of town plans into the maps. The detailed research in the book ensured it was an immediate success and allowed Speed to publish further editions.
The second part of this book consists of "A Prospect of the Most Famous parts of the World", a collection of maps, most likely anglicised versions of Dutch originals, forming the first English world atlas. Although this book was a success, it lacked the detail of the "Theatre", some areas of the world are covered in much more detail than others, and often accuracy was compromised. For example, the map of Bermuda is incredibly detailed, showing divisions of land and parish boundaries while the maps of New England only depict a basic outline of the territory with numerous pictures of local fauna to fill blank spaces.