EDWARD WELLS

This lavish world map was first issued by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot nearly a century previous. This re-issue by Elwe retains the cartography with the island of California with Terre de Iesso just off shore of North America. In the Pacific there is a partial coastline of New Zealand and Van Diemens Land together with partial coastline for Terre Australe et Inconnue et Magellanique. It is probably the last published map to show California as an island. The map is beautifully decorated with a rich allegorical background. The female representations of the four continents adorn the corners with figures representing the virtues of Justice with her ax and scales, Truth holding a mirror while being attacked by a serpent, Fortitude with a broken column, and Temperance mixing wine and water.