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1712 Wells Map of Italy

NewMapItaly-wells-1712
$275.00
A New Map of Italy, together with the Adjoyning Islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, Shewing their Principal Divisions, Cities, Towns, Rivers, Mountains etc. - Main View
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1712 Wells Map of Italy

NewMapItaly-wells-1712


Title


A New Map of Italy, together with the Adjoyning Islands of Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, Shewing their Principal Divisions, Cities, Towns, Rivers, Mountains etc.
  1712 (undated)     15 x 19.5 in (38.1 x 49.53 cm)     1 : 3750000

Description


This is an uncommon 1712 map of Italy inclusive of the adjoining islands of Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily by Edward Wells of Oxford. It extends north as far as Lake Geneva and Germany and from France to the Gulf of Venice and the Adriatic Sea, noting towns, cities, rivers, mountains, islands and other topographical features. At the time this map was made, most of Italy was under Spanish control. Following the War of Spanish Succession, Spain would lose many of its territories in Italy to Habsburg Austria, making Austria the dominant power in Italy.

A decorative cartouche appears on the top right quadrant of the map featuring the coat of arms of the Duke of Gloucester. This, like many other Wells maps, is dedicated to Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and son of Queen Anne, who, when this map was being prepared, was a student at Oxford. Engraved by Sutton Nicholls and published by T. Bonwicke for the 1712 edition of Edward Wells' Atlas, A New Sett of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography.

Cartographer


Edward Wells (1667 - 1727) was an English mathematician, geographer, and classical scholar based at Christ Church College, Oxford. Wells trained for the ministry but quickly found himself unsuited to religious life and instead applied for an academic position at Oxford, where he authored numerous well respected works on a wide range of mathematical and scientific topics. He tutored Prince William, the sickly son of Queen Anne, who was likely about 11 at the time this map was prepared. Wells dedicated nearly all of the maps in his atlas, A New Sett of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography, to the young prince - quite possibly posthumously, as William died in July of 1700 shortly prior to the publication of the atlas. Nonetheless, Wells' geography proved popular and was published in number editions well into the 1730s. More by this mapmaker...

Source


Wells, E., A New Sett of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography, (London, T. w. Bonwicke) c. 1712.     A New Sett of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography was published by Edward Wells in various editions between 1701 and 1730. The publication contained some 40 maps all of which were dedicated to Prince William, Duke of Gloucester. Wells tutored the young prince at Christchurch, Oxford and seems to have developed a close relationship with him. At just 11 years of age, William died in 1700 and never had the opportunity to see the published work that he inspired. The atlas was intended for educational purposes with a focus on school use.

Condition


Very good. Some wear and foxing along original centerfold. Original platemark visible. Professionally flattened and backed with archival tissue.

References


New York Public Library, Map Division, OCLC : 7143148 (1700 edition).