A New Map of the Terraqueous Globe according to the Ancient Discoveries and most general Divisions of it into Continents and Oceans.

First edition of this superb c.18th double hemisphere world map dedicated to His Highness William, the Duke of Gloucester.

The Duke was attending Oxford where Wells was a teacher of mathematics and geography. The map is embellished with a figure of Britannia holding Medusa shield and a view of the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. Engraved by Michael Burghers.

The map is further identified as being from the first edition by the number 1 below the dedication.

It is one of the last maps to depict California as an Island. The northwest coast of North America is left blank and North America is noted as perhaps being “no other, than the Insular Atlantis of the Ancients.”

 From Wells,  A New Sett of Maps of Antient and Present Geography.

References:
Moreland, C. & Bannister, D. Antique Maps. London 1995 : p.163, ill. p.164.
Shirley, R. The Mapping of the World Early Printed World Maps 1472-1700. London 1987 : 609, p.605, ill. Pl 420, p.604.

Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 587951
National Library New Zealand: MapColl 100a 1722? 42929