An extremely ornate map by Vincenzo Maria Coronelli, the great seventeenth century Italian cartographer. 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 particular map is from his ‘Corso Geografico Universale’, 1695, and fractures the provinces of Shantung and Peking. The Great Wall of China is displayed along with the Bay. The whole is completed by an ornate title cartouche. Dilke, The Map Collector 29 pp. 10-12.