This map of the Isle of Wight comes from the exceedingly rare Teatro della Guerra published in Naples, 1706-09. Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718) was a Franciscan Friar and the founder of the first Geographical Society. He was an active cartographer, cosmographer, globe maker, author, inventor and engineer, and teacher. Born in Ravenna in 1650 at the age of 15 he entered the Franciscan Order in which he would become Gran Generale in 1699. As he became more interested in cartography he developed an extensive correspondence network around Europe. In 1681 he famously went to Paris to produce 2 four metre globes for Louis XIV which still survive to this day. In 1685 he was made Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic and began teaching geography founding the ‘Academia Cosmographica degli Argonauti’ in 1688, the world’s first geographical society. He single handedly brought back Italy’s reputation in the field of cartography. His style of engraving is very distinctive and displays detail without being too busy, it is very attractive to the eye. Arguably his most famous publication was the ‘Atlante Veneto’ in 1691. This map comes from the extremely rare Teatro della Guerra published in Naples, 1706-09. As the title indicates it depicted the various theatres of war and included maps, plans, views and charts. Although many were used in other Coronelli works a number are unique to this rare work. Armao (1944) 62; Nordenskiold Collection 59; Shirley (2004) T.Coro 15a.