John Speed was a famous historian and cartographer. In 1627 he published in London the first English atlas of the world. His name, however, was made particularly famous by the map titled A New and Accurat Map of the World, known for thousands of reproductions. It depicts two hemispheres of the Earth and is adorned with allegorical images of water, air and fire, as well as portraits of famous sailors and explorers: Olivier van Noort, Ferdinand Magellan, Thomas Cavendish and Francis Drake. The work is complemented by astronomical charts and drawings including the solar eclipse.
