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Sebastian Munster. "Tabula orientalis regionis, Asiae…" Basel, [1540]. 10 x 13 1/2. Woodcut. A few printer's wrinkles. Very good condition.
A nice example of the first separate map of Asia. Munster based his maps on Ptolemy's geography, but he greatly modified this thirteen-century old conception with recent information. Much of the data for this map of Asia came from the Travels of Marco Polo, written while Polo was in prison in 1298. This work told of Polo's travels with his father and uncle to China in 1275, and it had a immense impact on the conception of Asia held by Europeans through the sixteenth century. The map contains many inaccuracies reflecting the lack of good, first-hand explorations of Asia. The Indian sub-continent is shown too small, whereas in contrast Southeast Asia is beginning to be depicted somewhat correctly. Ceylon, once shown as a very large island, is now more its proper size, though two islands are shown in the immediate area. The old misconception concerning Ceylon is still reflected on this map, however, for the ancient name for the island, "Taprobane," is applied to Sumatra, an island more in scale with Ptolemy's idea of Taprobane. It is interesting to note the way Munster runs the continent of Asia off the eastern edge of the map, so as not to commit on whether Asia was or was not connected with North America; this despite his own map of America showing it as a separate land mass. Marco Polo's information was not all an improvement on Ptolemy. He introduced several geographic misconceptions, including one that put a 7,448 island archipelago off the coast of China, a misconception shown here by Munster with a scattering of islands and a legend giving their number. Besides its historic interest, this map has much visual appeal as well, with mole hill mountains, crenelated walls and towers to show cities, and Neptune and a huge sea monster in the ocean. This is a cornerstone map of Asia, belonging in any Asia collection. $1,500
Giuseppe Rosaccio. "Asia." Venice: G. Rosaccio, 1598. 7 1/2 x 10. Engraving. Very good condition.
A late sixteenth century map of Asia from Giuseppe Rosaccio's edition of Ptolemy's Geographia. The map is based on Ortelius' map of the continent issued in his 1570 Theatrum. While it presents among the best depictions of Asia at the time, it is interesting for its unusual renderings, such as the oddly shaped Japan and the many islands throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans-some real and some non-existent. $325
Gerard Mercator Jr. after Gerard Mercator. "Asia ex magna orbis terre descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris desumpta studio et industria G. M. Iunoris." From the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius, [1595]-1606. 14 7/8 x 18 3/8. Engraving. Full original color. Full margins. Very good condition.
Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) ranks as one of the greatest cartographers in history, not only for the extremely fine maps he produced, but also for the innovations which he introduced into cartographic science. Until the end of the sixteenth century, Ptolemy's concept of depicting sections of the world in trapezoidal configurations, like gores from a globe, had predominated. Mercator, however, stated that small sections of the earth were not significantly distorted toward the poles if longitude lines were represented as parallel by squares or rectangles. The development of the "Mercator projection," which became the established convention, was particularly important for the improvements it allowed in navigational methods.
Through his constant accumulation of new geographic and cosmological data, Mercator was able to produce the most accurate and current maps of his day, which unlike most of his contemporary's maps were mostly original work. His maps not only are excellent cartographically, but they are aesthetically superb as well, with beautiful cartouches, silken seas and other exquisite ornamentation. Mercator intended to produce a complete description of creation, heaven, the earth and the seas, a project he was only beginning when he died. Such was his influence that the title he chose for this projected work, "Atlas," has now become the generic name for all collections of maps. Mercator's grandson, Gerard Mercator Jr., drew this map of Asis based on Mercator's world map of 1569. As Mercator's general statement about Asia, highly decorative with its strong color in the early Dutch style, this is one of the best maps of Asia by one of the greatest cartographers in history. $2,100
Jodocus Hondius. "Tartaria." From the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. Amsterdam: J. Hondius, [1606]. 13 3/8 x 19 1/4. Engraving. Original hand color. Full margins. Paper very clean except browning at far right margin. Reinforced centerfold. Very good condition.
A stunning Renaissance map by Jodocus Hondius showing the one of the extreme edges of the 'known world' in the early seventeenth century. The map is drawn in the mannerist style much like Mercator's plates, with three wonderful strap-work cartouches, two costumed figures, and beautiful calligraphy. The cartographic information, which was compiled by Hondius, is fascinating. The Great Wall of China, rivers, towns, and lakes are named and indicated from "Moskua" to the "Anian Fretum." While this Anian Strait is in the correct position of the Bering Strait, its depiction is based solely on speculation rather than first hand information from explorations. This is quite typical of this map, for it is not surprising that a rendering of the regions of the world at the edges 'known world' would contain as much fiction as fact. There is some acurate, newly, discovered information, including the mapping of the west coast of Nova Zembla, but there is much more that is simply myth or geographic error. Amongst the most noticeable of the latter are the lands of Gog and Magog, and Korea rendered as an island. An excellent map, decoratively and historically. $1,500
Henricus Hondius. "Asia recens summa cura delineata." Amsterdam: H. Hondius, [1631]-1649. 14 7/8 x 19 5/8. Engraving. Lovely original color. Full margins. Very good condition.
A striking map and one of the most correct to date of the area. In carrying on the great Mercator-(Jodocus) Hondius tradition, Jansson, the son-in-law of Hondius, and Henricus Hondius, his direct descendant, updated the earlier works, at the same time developing a cartographic style of their own. This is a lovely example of Henricus Hondius' output. Typically of the maps from Hondius' atlas, the depiction is filled with information, some accurate and some based solely on hearsay. Much detail is given of rivers, mountains, islands and towns. An elephant is illustrated in western China, lions in Africa, and a merman and two sea monsters off the coasts. Other decorative features include three western ships and a Chinese junk, as well as two elegant cartouches. $1,600
Martini/Joan Blaeu. "Iaponia Regnum." Amsterdam, 1655+. 16 1/2 x 22 1/4. Engraving. Touches of hand color. Excellent condition. Walter, 38.
Martino Martini assembled information about Japan while he was in China. This map exhibits a combination of derivation from both the Jesuit Blancus/Moriera type and the Dudley/Jannson. Joan Blaeu would have been familiar with both these sources and also probably added the many Dutch names found here through his work with the Dutch East Indies Company. Prior to publishing his Atlas Major, Blaeu published a separate atlas of the orient entitled Atlas Sinensis in 1655. Most of the maps contained beautiful ornamentation, but this one is decidedly plain and straight forward. Following information from Robert Dudley, this is one of the earliest maps to show Korea as a peninsula rather than an island. The confused depiction of "Eso" that was found in other contemporary maps is not broached here because so little of the land mass is shown. $3,200
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Other maps of Asian regions by W. Blaeu. Amsterdam: J. Bleau, 1643-50. Engravings. Excellent original hand color. Very good condition, except as noted.
An updated map based on the Blaeu map of Southeast Asia (cf. above). Most of the atlases by Frederick DeWit (1630-1706) were composite in nature, so they are impossible to date precisely, though this map was engraved in 1662. The map shows from southeastern Persia to northwestern Australia. Focus is on India, Southeast Asia, and the East Indies with the Phillipines. The many islands are clearly depicted, with ports shown as the most important information. The Celebes Islands were then being developed for the spice trade which would lead to hostilities among the European powers. $1,250
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Frederick de Wit. "Accuratissima totius Asiae Tabula." Amsterdam: F. de Wit, ca. 1680. 19 1/4 x 22 1/2. Engraving. Excellent, original hand color. Minor wear at bottom edge. Very good condition.
A lovely seventeenth century map of the continent from the Dutch cartographer, Frederick de Wit. De Wit followed in the footsteps of the earlier Dutch cartographic publishers Jansson and Blaeu, and like them, he issued maps known for their beautiful engraving and hand coloring. This map of Asia is a good example of the attractiveness of his output, with strongly engraved lines and strong color. Information in the continent is dense and much relatively accurate for the period. Japan has an unusual shape, and north is a vague and over-large depiction of "Yedso," what is really the Kurile Islands. The northern coast of "Hollandia Nova" (Australia) is shown in the bottom right. A charming title cartouche graces the bottom left corner, showing a trading caravan at rest, with two exotic parrots perched on the title panel. A decorative and historically interesting map. $1,250
Nicolaas Witsen. "Asia Accuratissime Descripta." Amsterdam: Peter Schenck, 1695. 19 1/4 x 23. Enraving. Strong original outline color. A few light stains in margin. Very good condition.
A strongly engraved and colored map of Asia based on the work of Nicolaas Witsen. Witsen was at various times Mayor and Burgomaster of Amsterdam, ambassador or Russian and England, friend of Peter the Great, traveler, map collector, map maker, and artist of some note. Witsen traveled extensively, including to Moscow in 1664. He maintained copious correspondence with people in different parts of Asia and was able to compile as extensive knowledge of the continent as anyone in the later part of the seventeenth century. In 1692 he issued his account of Noord en Oost Tartarye and he was responsible for a large map of Asia in 1687. This is Peter Schenck's version of Witsen's information, and it is impressive in its detail and accuracy for the time. Besides its excellent information, the map is visually appealing as well, with good color and an elaborate cartouche with various Asiatic figures, objects, produce, and fauna. $1,800
Michael Burgers. “A New Map of Present Asia dedicated to his Highness William duke of Gloucester.” Oxford: Edward Wells, 1700. 13 3/4 x 19 1/4 (neat lines) plus full margins. Engraving by M. Burgers. Outline hand color. Center fold as issued. Slight age discoloration. Very good condition.
An attractive map of Asia from Wells’ New Set of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography. This atlas was issued by Wells for Oxford University students, which explains the clarity of the lettering and the lack of distracting, non-essential decorative features. The map was drawn and engraved by Michael Burgers (also Burg or van de Burgh), a Dutch mapmaker who came to England in 1672 and became the engraver to Oxford University. The map shows the entire continent as well as the East Indies which were coming rapidly into focus for the European powers. For the students, Wells shows the cities on the ancient Silk Road that was still being used even though the safest way to the Orient was by ship around Africa. China, Korea and Japan are shown in relatively correct juxtaposition but in simplified shapes. Relative importance of cities is shown with symbols. It is fascinating to think that if one were a student at the turn of the eighteenth century, this map reflects all one would be thought to need to know of Asia.
Part of that fascination is the realization that much of this ‘knowledge’ was incorrect on this map. Shapes are distorted and old names are taken from ancient sources reflects many of the geographic errors and myths of the period. Overall, this is a map which is intriguing to look at both visually and intellectually. $625
John Senex. "A New Map of Asia From the latest Observations." From A New General Atlas. London: J. Senex, 1721. 18 x 21 7/8. Engraving. Original outline color. Full margins. Very good condition.
A strongly engraved and nicely colored map by John Senex, one of the leading English cartographers in the early part of the eighteenth century, a time when England was coming to the forefront of the world cartographic scene. Senex was a popular and prolific mapmaker, and the quality of his work is evidenced by his appointment as Geographer to Queen Anne. This is a very attractive map of Asia, combining the latest information available to Senex with the many misconceptions of the continent prevalent in Europe at the time. Many rivers, towns, lake, roads, and other information is presented from the Urals to the East Indies. An inset of "ye supposed N. Coast of Asia" is given in the lower left "to avoid too great a contraction of the scale." The map is most confused in the seas to the north of Japan. The "Land of Iess" and "Company's Land" are shown as indistinct and large land masses, and north of them is an open "Eastern Ocean." Decoratively, this map is quite appealing. The neat, strong engraving is nicely complimented by the outline hand coloring. Senex included a charming title cartouche, which shows two figures in Asian dress, along with flora and fauna of the continent. $1,200
Guillaume Delisle. "L'Asie." Brussels: Eugene Henri Fricx, 1730. 17 5/8 x 22 3/4. Engraving by Jean Harrewijn. Full original color. Full margins. Excellent condition.
A very attractive and unusual version of Delisle's map of Asia, published by E.H. Fricx or Friex. Fricx, a bookseller and printer, took his geographic content directly from Delisle, to whom he gives credit in the title cartouche. Fricx's map does differ from Delisle's both in the coloring, here with bold color similar to that of the German style, and in the newly designed cartouches, including a cartouche designed as an oriental rug, hanging from the upper right neat line, which contains the publishing information. $950
Georg Matthäus and Albrecht Carl Seutter. "Magni Turcarum Dominatoris Imperium . . ." From Atlas Minor. Augsburg: G.M. Seutter, 1744. Ca. 8 x 10. Engraving by T.C. Lotter. Full original color, with uncolored cartouche as issued.
One of a series of beautiful maps of all parts of the world. Georg Matthäus Seutter was one of the most important of the German cartographers, being appointed as the Geographer to the Imperial Court. His son, Albrecht Carl, joined Matthäus and eventually inherited the business. The maps from this atlas were drawn by the two Seutters and were engraved by Tobias C. Lotter, who later took over the business from Albrecht. These maps, typically of German output, are highly detailed and engraved with a bold hand. Equally strong is the original hand color in the body of the map. The cartouches were left uncolored in order to emphasize the elaborately detailed illustrations for which German maps are especially prized. These are some of the most decorative and interesting maps of the mid-eighteenth century. $350
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George Louis le Rouge. "L'Asie." Paris: le Rouge, 1747. Engraving. 19 1/2 x 24 3/4. Trimmed close to left neat line, as issued. With repairs of old tears, especially at folds. Overall, very good condition and excellent strike.
A very good map of Asia issued in Le Rouge's Atlas nouveau portatif. George Louis le Rouge (fl. 1740-80) was one in the line of great French cartographers beginning with Nicolas Sanson, rising to become the Geographer to the French King. This map, based on the latest astronomical observations from the Academy in Moscow, bespeaks the quality of his work. Rivers, mountains, lakes, countries, cities, and so forth are shown clearly and with significant accuracy. Along the left is a table of the divisions of Asia---political and religious. A fine map of the continent. $725
Frederick De Wit. "Tabula Indiae Orientalis." Amsterdam, 1662ff. 18 x 22 1/4. Engraving by Joannes Shuilier, 1662. Original hand color. Full margins. Very good condition. Koeman: Wit, 3 (17). Ref: Quirino, Philippine Cartography, p.84.
An updated map based on the Blaeu map of Southeast Asia (cf. above). Most of the atlases by Frederick DeWit (1630-1706) were composite in nature, so they are impossible to date precisely, though this map was engraved in 1662. The map shows from southeastern Persia to northwestern Australia. Focus is on India, Southeast Asia, and the East Indies with the Phillipines. The many islands are clearly depicted, with ports shown as the most important information. The Celebes Islands were then being developed for the spice trade which would lead to hostilities among the European powers. $1,250
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[Detail]
Thomas Woodroofe. “A Plain Chart of the Caspian Sea.” London: J. Hanway, 1753. 13 3/4 x 21 1/2. Engraving. With folds as issued. Split at fold at right and one tear just into image; repaired. Some light off-setting. Very good condition.
The first detailed chart of the Caspian sea based on the surveys of John Elton and Thomas Woodroofe. They were both Englishmen who surveyed the sea in the early eighteenth century as part of the British trade in the area. $450
Guillaume Delisle. "Terrae Sanctae Tabula e Scripturae Sacrae, Flavii Josephi, Eusebii et Divi Hieronymi..." From Rigobert Bonne's Atlas Moderne ou Collection de Cartes sur toutes les parties du Globe Terrestre. Paris: Lattré and Delalain, 1763. Two sheets each 13 1/2 x 19 1/2. Original hand color. Some minor blemishes. Otherwise, very good condition. Laor: 245.
A beautiful, two sheet map of the Holy Land originally done by Guillaume Delisle, but edited by his brother, Joseph after his death. Palestine shown divided among the Tribes. Typical of the French school of cartography, the decorative elements of the map are kept to the cartouches. In this particular one, the ten commandments are included. $550
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"Carte de la Tartarie Chinoise." From Atlas Moderne. Paris: Jean Lattré & Delalain, [1771]-1775?. Folio. Engravings. Original hand color.
Jean Lattré was a French engraver and publisher who worked in Paris in the second half of the eighteenth century. Such was the quality of his work that he was appointed as the "Graveur Ordinaire" first to the Dauphin and later to the King of France. This is a nice example of his work, with a beautiful title cartouche done in an elaborate baroque style. For its decorative appeal and accurate geographic and political information, this is a wonderful eighteenth century cartographic document. $325
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William Darton, Jr. "Asia." From Atlas to Walker's Geography. London: Vernor and Hood, etc., 1802. 7 1/4 x 8 1/2. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
William Darton, Sr. started his mapmaking business in 1787 in London, and thus began a cartographic publishing house that would last, in various manifestations, until the 1860s. William Darton, Jr. joined his father late in the eighteenth century and these are maps engraved by him for Walker's Geography. While not large, the maps contain an impressive amount of detail carefully presented. The information used was the best available in London at the beginning of the nineteenth century, meaning the best in the world, so these maps are not only attractive, but provide an excellent cartographic picture of the world at the time. This map of Asia includes a surprising amount of information of the interior, some correct and some not. $195
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"Asia and Its Islands, from the most recent Authorities." From A New and Elegant General Atlas. (London, 1810). London: Laurie & Whittle, 1807. 7 1/4 x 9 1/2. Engraving. Excellent original color. Very good condition.
In 1794, Robert Laurie and James Whittle took over Robert Sayer's important publishing business in London and continued to produce maps of the highest quality into the early nineteenth century. With access to the best geographic records and the finest craftsmen, the maps issued by Laurie & Whittle are among the best of the period. This map of Asia is a fine example, exhibiting surprising detail of the entire continent in a small format. Rivers, lakes and mountains are well illustrated and political borders highlighted in contrasting colors. This map presents an excellent snapshot of the situation of Asia at the beginning of the nineteenth century. $285
John Thomson. "Asia." From A New General Atlas. Edinburgh: J. Thomson, 1821. Engraving. 19 3/4 x 23 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition.
An detailed map of Asia, beautifully crafted, with precise engraving and neat hand coloring. The quality of British cartographic production was not limited to London, and this map is good evidence that superb maps were issued to the north as well. Topography is shown, and many settlements are indicated throughout. An excellent map of the continent from the eraly nineteenth century. $525
John Cary. "A New Map of Hindoostan, from the Latest Authority." From Cary's New Universal Atlas. London: J. Cary, 1825. 18 1/4 x 20. Engraving. Minor wear in outside margins and along center seam. Otherwise, very good condition.
English mapmaker John Cary (ca. 1754-1835), was the founder of the famous English cartographic firm. From about mid-way through the eighteenth century, British cartographers were the best in the world, and the maps produced by Cary are good examples of the quality achieved in Britain. Rivers, towns, roads, and other information is clearly presented with very crisp engravings, and the maps have an almost three-dimensional topographical appearance. The subtle hand coloring adds a decorative touch to these fine early nineteenth century historic documents. This full size map of Hindoostan includes an insert of the Island of Ceylon. $450
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