The story of how stock of the London map trade was acquired or passed from one to another is a fascinating one. The relationships between surveyors, mapmakers, engravers, publishers and mapsellers is often complex. I hope the diagram below helps to illustrate the history of John Speed's map plates and a few other relationships.
John Sudbury fl. 1599 - 1618
By 1603 John Sudbury
was in partnership with
his nephew George Humble.
Published John Speed Atlas in 1610
George Humble
(fl. 1603 - 40)
Died in 1640
The business bequeathed
to George Humble's Son. William Humble
(fl. 1640 - 59)
Published many editions of the Speed Atlas
William Garrett. Publisher
His daughter married John Overton
Purchased the Speed plates from William Humble in 1658 - 9. Did not use them but soon sold them to Roger
Rea the elder and younger.
Peter Stent
fl. 1641 - 1662
Acquired stock from William Humble but not the Speed plates.
Published the series of anonymous county maps in 1650
Died in 1665
Roger Rea, the elder and the younger
(fl. 1660 - 67)
Purchased the John Speed plates and published atlases in 1662 and 1665
Thomas Bassett (fl. 1659 - 93)
and Richard Chiswell (fl.1639 - 1711)
Purchased the Speed plates from Roger Rea and published an atlas in 1676
John Overton (fl. 1665 - 1707)
Married the daughter of William Garrett
Acquired stock of Peter Stent in 1665
Acquired Speed plates in 1700 from
Christopher Browne. Disposed of his stock to his son Henry Overton in 1707.
Christopher Browne (fl. 1688 - 1712)
Purchased the Speed plates and published an atlas. Sold the Speed plates to John Overton.
Henry Overton (fl.1707 - 49)
Reissued the series of anonymous maps in 1708
Published Speed Atlas in 1713 and again in 1743
Cluer Dicey (fl. c.1740-0)
Acquired the Speed plates and published the last edition in 1770.
