This uncommon miniature world map is from Wells' edition of Dionysius Periegetes' geographical handbook. Dionysius was a Greek author of the time of Hadrian, who is also known as Periegetes (the guide). The book is a poetic verse account of the known world. The map presents a contemporary view of the world with its new discoveries engraved in a lighter line, and those of the Old World in a bolder line. California is shown as an island, and only partial coastlines appear for New Zealand and Australia. Only the continents of Europe, Africa, and Asia are named on the map, and both the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer are labeled. Edward Wells (1667-1727) was a mathematician, geographer and divine and a fairly prolific mapmaker in the early 18th century. This map was published between 1704-61.

References: King (3rd Ed.) #1704.

Condition: A

A crisp impression on a bright sheet with a few faint spots of foxing.