Price: £900.00
Title: 'A New Map of the Terraqueous Globe According to the Ancient Discoveries and most General Divisions of it into Continents and Oceans'. An exceptional world map from 'A New Sett of Maps both of Antient and Present Geography', an atlas compiled by the geographer and mathematician Edward Wells (1667-1727). The maps of this atlas are dedicated to the young William, Duke of Gloucester, Queen Anne's last surviving son and heir to the throne. William studied geography under Wells, but unfortunately died in 1700 at the age of 11 just as the first maps of the atlas were published. Wells designed his maps for instructional use in the geography courses he taught at Christ Church College at Oxford and his clear and direct cartographic presentation proved popular with the general public as well. Something of a surprise commercial success, the atlas received several printings well into the 1730s. While examples of one or the other of these maps are quite scarce, the two together as a pair are exceptionally uncommon. The wonderfully decorative maps are greatly prized for their charming vignettes including views of Oxford, and provide a fascinating snapshot of British understanding of the world at the outset of the 18th century. The condition is very good. There is minor soiling, mainly in the lower part of the right hand hemisphere and in title bar, where some very faint offset is also present. The original binders stub is attached on the verso, and its outline appears as a second parallel centrefold. A couple tiny vertical strips of paper loss along centrefold have been professionally restored - not noticeable. There are two visible vertical creases on opposite sides of the centrefold as can be seen in the photos - these would not be particularly noticeable if matted to the neatline and framed. There are two inobtrusive vertical creases parallel to the centrefold. The maps have been professionally backed with a very thin linen, presumably by the Municipal Reference Library of Bath for protective reasons. This institution deaccessioned the atlas volume in which the maps were originally bound, and there are two small embossed library stamps on each map. This map and its partner 'Latest discoveries' can be sold seperately or as a pair for £2600.
ANTIQUE MAPS (1216)
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