What is “A New and Accurat Map of the World” by John Speed dated 1651?

It is John Speed’s famous double hemisphere world map, first issued in the sixteen twenties and later dated 1651 on the plate. This John Speed 1651 antique world map print is one of the best-known early English world maps, made to be both readable and decorative as wall art.

What makes this John Speed world map historically interesting?

It is an early widely seen map that helps explain how people pictured the world in the 1600s. It is known for details like California shown as an island and the early marking of New Plymouth in North America.

What is shown in the borders and corner panels?

The map is surrounded by showpiece details: portraits of Magellan, Drake, Cavendish, and Van Noort, plus two celestial hemispheres, allegories of the four elements, and diagrams of solar and lunar eclipses. These details are a big reason collectors search for this map as historical map wall art and home decor.

Will it arrive safely with international shipping?

Yes. We ship worldwide and pack prints rolled, protected in bubble wrap, and placed in a sturdy cardboard box to handle long-distance transit.

Can I order a custom size, and how is the print finished?

Yes. Choose a standard size on the product page, or message us for custom sizing. We print on hand-processed paper, finish with softly burned edges, add gold paint highlights, and seal it with a beeswax finish for a parchment-style look.

A New and Accurat Map of the World - John Speed, 1651. (World Map In Color)

This is a big, busy world map with two round hemispheres and a lot happening in the borders. Warm parchment tones, soft reds and gold outlines make it feel like a page pulled from a 1600s atlas, and the detail works well in a study, living room or library corner with books, wood and brass around it.

To learn more about the history of these pieces and how we craft them in our family workshop, feel free to read our full guide to antique map prints.

About this map print

This print is based on John Speed’s famous double hemisphere world map A New and Accurat Map of the World, first issued in the 1620s and later dated 1651. in his world atlas A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World. It is one of the earliest world maps printed in England and one of the first widely available maps to show California as an island and to mark the new English settlement of New Plymouth in America.

Speed’s geography leans heavily on Dutch sources like Jodocus Hondius, but the decoration is where this map really stands out. Around the hemispheres you see portraits of the four great circumnavigators Magellan, Drake, Cavendish and Van Noort, two celestial hemispheres, and personifications of the four elements fire, air, earth and water, plus diagrams of eclipses and heavenly spheres. Across the bottom sits a large “Southerne Unknowne Land” that wraps around the pole instead of a mapped Australia, a reminder that much of the southern hemisphere was still guesswork when this was engraved. The crowded borders and strong baroque style put it in the same visual family as later showpiece maps like Visscher’s Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis, but here the central hemispheres stay relatively clear so the coastlines and place names are easy to read.

If you are curious about the history behind this piece, we put together a short background on this map for you to read.

Craft & finish

Every replica we make is individually hand-processed in our family workshop. We finish the paper with a traditional beeswax seal to give it a warm, heavy texture. Our team also adds subtle gold paint details by hand to help the artwork truly shine. To complete the look, we hand-burn the edges to give each piece the feel of a true historical artifact.

While our smaller sizes are perfect for gallery walls, our 43x61 cm Large replica is a museum-scale centerpiece. Because of the size, the hand-processing and beeswax application take much longer. This extra time and care ensures that every centimeter of the historic illustration is preserved with a rich, authentic glow.

Find more prints like this in our Antique Maps collection.

A New and Accurat Map of the World (John Speed, 1651.) - Antique World Map

Name: A New and Accurat Map of the World (John Speed, 1651.) - Antique World Map
Brand: Artifex Replicas

€49.00

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At Artifex Historical Replicas, we bridge the gap between museum archives and your home. Each piece is a handcrafted historical art print recreated from authentic primary sources, including antique city views and botanical illustrations.

Hand-Processed Paper: We use specialized paper with burned edges and a beeswax finish to replicate the weight and feel of genuine old parchment.

Gilded Details: Our workshop adds subtle real gold accents, bringing the same glow to your walls found in 16th-century illuminated manuscripts.

Custom Sizes & Worldwide Shipping: We offer bespoke sizing for custom frames and ship our historical replicas globally from our family workshop.

Explore our full guide on how we create, display, and restore parchment-style replicas.
Q1: What is “A New and Accurat Map of the World” by John Speed dated 1651?
A: It is John Speed’s famous double hemisphere world map, first issued in the sixteen twenties and later dated 1651 on the plate. This John Speed 1651 antique world map print is one of the best-known early English world maps, made to be both readable and decorative as wall art.

Q2: What makes this John Speed world map historically interesting?
A: It is an early widely seen map that helps explain how people pictured the world in the 1600s. It is known for details like California shown as an island and the early marking of New Plymouth in North America.

Q3: What is shown in the borders and corner panels?
A: The map is surrounded by showpiece details: portraits of Magellan, Drake, Cavendish, and Van Noort, plus two celestial hemispheres, allegories of the four elements, and diagrams of solar and lunar eclipses. These details are a big reason collectors search for this map as historical map wall art and home decor.

Q4: Will it arrive safely with international shipping?
A: Yes. We ship worldwide and pack prints rolled, protected in bubble wrap, and placed in a sturdy cardboard box to handle long-distance transit.

Q5: Can I order a custom size, and how is the print finished?
A: Yes. Choose a standard size on the product page, or message us for custom sizing. We print on hand-processed paper, finish with softly burned edges, add gold paint highlights, and seal it with a beeswax finish for a parchment-style look.
Your handmade historical replica is finished with a traditional beeswax seal to create an authentic parchment texture. Because of this artisan process, care is slightly different than a standard poster:

Flattening: If your print has a slight curve from shipping, simply unroll it and place it under clean, flat weights (like books) for 24–48 hours.

Removing Creases: The beeswax finish is flexible. If a crease appears, gently warm the area with a hair dryer on low heat. As the wax relaxes, the crease will vanish into the paper. Note: Avoid open flames to ensure the safety of your art.

Display & Environment: To preserve the rich colors and wax texture, display your print away from direct sunlight, radiators, or humid areas. High heat can soften the wax, and UV light can fade historical inks over time.

Framing Tip: For the best archival look, we recommend framing behind glass in a dry, room-temperature environment.

A New and Accurat Map of the World (John Speed, 1651.) - Antique World Map

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