Historic Map : Wells Map of France, 1712, Vintage Wall Art

This is a lovely 1712 map of France by Edward Wells of Oin xford. It covers all of France and parts of Belgium and Switzerland. Notes the principal divisions, cities, towns, rivers, roads and other topographical features.

At the opening of the 18th century France was one of the dominant powers in Europe. With a population of nearly 19,000,000 people under a single government and ample arable farmland, France dominated most of Europe socially and economically.

A decorative cartouche appears on the bottom left quadrant of the map featuring the coat of arms of the Duke of Gloucester. This, like many other Wells maps, is dedicated to Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and son of Queen Anne, who, when this map was being prepared, was a student at Oin xford. Engraved by R. Spofforth and published by T. Bonwicke for the 1712 edition of Edward Wells' Atlas, A New Sett of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography.