Wells' atlas contained two maps of each region - one with its then current form and another with ancient and classical names. This is his 'ancient' map of Africa, and although the whole continent is shown, only the geography of Ptolemy is presented. Therefore, the map is largely blank, particularly in the south, which is noted as Unknown to the Ancients. The only city south of the Equator is Rapta metropolis Barbariae and there is a notation at the tip that Vasquez de Gama was the first to sail around Africa in 1497. The large title cartouche is surmounted by the coat of arms of the Duke of Gloucester, who was Wells' student at Oxford and to whom Wells dedicated his atlas. Engraved by R. Spofforth. This is from an early edition, prior to the addition of engraved plate numbers.

References: Norwich #60; Shirley (BL Atlases) T.WELL-1a #36.

Condition: B+

There is light soiling and an extraneous crease adjacent to the off-center centerfold.