A REMARKABLY RARE MAP of the Maltese islands derived from that of Giovanni Giacomo Rossi published in 1686. In 1700 Paolo Petrini published the ‘Atlante Partenopeo’ in Naples. It is such a rare atlas that no example can be located in any institution after extensive searches, its last appearance at auction being at Sotheby’s London in 1985. Cartographically it is identical to the earlier maps, no effort being made to update it. Although unsigned the map of North America in the atlas was engraved by Antoine Donzel, a Frenchman, and it is possible he was responsible for the whole atlas. Petrini was a publisher in Naples whose active period was the first two decades of the eighteenth century. Other maps in the atlas are known in later states firstly without Petrini’s imprint and then with much later dates in the 1760s. We are not aware of a published list of states for this map but we may assume as Petrini’s name is present and that the map is in a good sharp impression with early engravers marks still visible that this is a first state and early issue. The map is orientated with the west at the top. All the Maltese islands are displayed with a full width ornate cartouche at the bottom surrounding a large plan of Valletta with 37 numbered keys to the two tables flanking it either side. refer Burden (1996-2007) no. 771; refer Ganado (2009) no. 88; Mason ‘Maps of Malta in the Order of St. John’ no. 55; Sotheby’s 7 November 1985 lot 65; refer Shirley (1984) nos. 606 & 625.