"Kiangsi, Imperii Sinarum Provincia Octava", Blaeu, Johannes

This map focuses on the Jiangxi province in southeastern China, with the city of Nanchang and the Poyang Lake at top center. The map extends to the Dongting Lake (Tungting L.) in the west and Hangzhou in the east. A strapwork title cartouche incorporates the scale of miles and is flanked by four Chinese figures. Blank verso.

The second landmark in the European mapping of China was the appearance of the Novus Atlas Sinensis in 1655. It was compiled by Father Martino Martini, an Italian Jesuit and produced by the most prominent Dutch cartographer of the time, Johannes Blaeu. Father Martini compiled the work based on Chinese sources between 1643 and 1650, and it greatly advanced European knowledge of the region including the astronomical positions of many cities and topographical features. It remained the standard geographical work on that country until the publication in 1737 of D'Anville's Atlas de la Chine.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #8428:2.

Condition: B+

On paper with a large watermark of the god Atlas. There is a light dampstain at lower left and scattered foxing that is more prominent in the blank margins. A short centerfold separation confined to the top blank margin has been closed on verso with archival tape.