Exploring the John Speed's Roman Empire Map from 1626.

If you love the grandeur of ancient history, then the John Speed's (1626.) Roman Empire map is a must-see. Officially titled "A New Mappe of the Romane Empire," this piece shows the empire at its greatest height. It is a stunning example of 17th-century art that brings the stories of the Caesars right into your home.

Our artisan replica of John Speed’s (1626.) Roman Empire map captures the "carte à figure" style of the 17th century. The hand-burned edges and beeswax finish make it feel like a true discovery from the Golden Age of maps.

At our family workshop, we take great pride in recreating this masterpiece. We use thick, hand-processed paper and a natural beeswax finish to make the art feel like a true historical find. We always burn the edges by hand to ensure your map looks authentic when you hang it on your wall.

What is a "Carte à Figure" Map?

John Speed was famous for a style called "carte à figure." This means the map is surrounded by beautiful illustrations of people and places. On the John Speed's (1626.) Roman Empire map, you will see city views across the top and costumed figures down the sides. It was designed to be an encyclopedia for your eyes.

From Tailor to Mapmaker: The John Speed Story

John Speed did not start his life as a famous researcher. He actually spent nearly fifty years working as a tailor in London. It was only later in life that he followed his passion for history and antiquity. With the help of a wealthy friend, he became the most respected English mapmaker of his time.

John Speed was the most celebrated English mapmaker of the 1600s. Though he started his life as a tailor, he went on to create the most famous English atlas of the ancient world.

This Roman Empire piece was the very first English atlas map to focus on the ancient Roman world. While it was made for the English market, the actual carving was done by master artists in Amsterdam. This is why it has such incredible, tiny details that look so clear on our handcrafted replicas.

The Secrets Hidden in the Borders

This map is much more than just a list of names. It is full of hidden messages and interesting art.

John Speed included views of the empire’s most famous cities across the top border. We hand-paint gold accents onto the frames of these vignettes, like this beautiful view of Jerusalem, to add a touch of luxury to your wall.

The City Views and Coins

Across the top, you can see "snapshots" of famous cities like Rome, Venice, and Jerusalem. In the corners, there are two large medallions. One shows Roma, the personification of the city, with a warning about her power to rule. The other honors Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome.

The People of the Empire

On the left and right sides, Speed included pairs of men and women. These show the traditional clothing of people from Spain, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, and Morocco. Even though the map shows the Roman era, the clothes are actually from the 1600s!

This was Speed’s way of showing how the world looked during his own life.

These side panels show the traditional clothing of different cultures as they were imagined in 1626. We highlight the borders and the sea monsters in the ocean with gold paint to bring the artwork to life.

Sea Monsters and Wild Lions

If you look closely at the Atlantic Ocean, you will find frightening sea monsters and naval battles. In the deserts of Africa, Speed included drawings of lions, leopards, and even a train of camels. These details make the map feel like a real adventure from a time of discovery.

Key Knowledge for Researchers

Feature	Detail
Official Name	A New Mappe of the Romane Empire
The Maker	John Speed (1552. to 1629.)
The Date	1626. (Engraved for the 1627. Prospect)
Style	Carte à figure with city views and figures
Main Cities	Rome, Genoa, Jerusalem, Venice, Constantinople, Alexandria

Why Our Handcrafted Replicas are Special

We believe that a map this grand should not look like a modern machine print. In our workshop, we follow a traditional artisan process to make every piece unique.

• Always Hand Burned Edges: We always burn the edges of our prints by hand. This gives the paper a unique, aged look that feels real to the touch.

• Beeswax Finish: We finish the paper with natural beeswax. This gives the map a soft glow and a warm parchment feel.

• Gold Paint Accents: We hand paint small gold details on the title scroll and the portrait medallions to add a touch of luxury.

• Worldwide Shipping: We ship our custom-sized prints worldwide so that anyone can enjoy a piece of history.

Bringing History to Your Walls

Because we use thick paper and natural beeswax, these prints are built to last for many years. We recommend placing your map in a frame to keep it safe from dust.

Many of our customers love to use a "float mount" for their frames. This lets the map sit slightly forward so you can see the hand-burned edges from every angle. If you want to see how we prepare our paper, you can read more about how we make our parchment replicas. You can also explore the stories of other masters in our complete guide to antique map prints. You can find this handcrafted replica and many others in the Antique Map Prints category in our shop here.

Frequently Asked Questions About the (1626.) Roman Empire Map

Why is Venice on a Roman map?

Speed included Venice because it was a major city in his own time. Even though Venice was not founded until after the height of Rome, Speed wanted his readers to see the most important places they would recognize.

What does the text at the bottom say?

The large box at the bottom is a "short declaration" of the history of Rome. It explains how the empire grew from a small village into a global power that ruled the world.

Are the clothes on the map historically accurate?

Not for the Roman era! The people on the sides are wearing clothes from the 17th century. This was very common for mapmakers in the 1600s who wanted to make their maps look fashionable.