A FIRST STATE example of an ornate map of England and Wales first published in Nicolas Sanson’s ‘Les Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde’ in 1665. Sanson (1600-67) was France’s premier cartographer and helped to lift the field onto another level during his career. In 1665 two folio maps were issued, one of the British Isles and this of England and Wales. The map outlines the modern counties along with the traditional Anglo-Saxon heptarchy which are here outlined in colour. With an attractive cartouche upper right. The cartography is derived from that of John Speed, Willem Blaeu and Johannes Jansson. This is an example of the first state dated 1665 according to Shirley, however, since then two further states dated similarly have been identified. This example remains the first state. Provenance Doreen Green 2003. Pastoureau, M. Sanson V B 117; Shirley, R.W. Sanson 3.1.