Edward Wells (1667-1727) was a mathematician and geographer. This map is from the ‘New Sett of Mapps’ first published in 1700. All the maps are dedicated to the young Duke of Gloucester who had always been sickly and died in July 1700. This fine detailed map focuses on France and proudly displays the reduced size of France following the survey work of Cassini. The old size of the country is displayed faintly off the coast with the notation of the earlier mkapmaker ‘Sansons Coast’. The ornate title cartouche is surmounted with the royal coat of arms, the whole is engraved by Robert Spofforth. The Duke of Gloucester was a student of Wells at Oxford. Shirley (BL) T.Well 1a.