Catalog Archive
Auction 110, Lot 563

"Asia Noviter Delineata", Blaeu, Willem

Subject: Asia

Period: 1633 (published)

Publication: Wahrhafftige Beschreibung all denckwurdigsten Geschichten…

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18 x 14 inches
45.7 x 35.6 cm
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This is an uncommon variant of one of the most famous 17th Century maps of the continent of Asia. It first appeared in 1617 with a carte-a-figures border. This example, without the decorative borders, is from a Dutch history book by Emmanuel van Meteren and printed by Blaeu. The eastern coastline of Asia is severely truncated, Korea is shown as a peninsula, and Japan is depicted on the Ortelius-Teixeira model. The Indian subcontinent is too narrow and the islands of Indonesia are very sketchy. A large island labeled Ceiram probably represents the western part of New Guinea. In the interior the Caspian Sea is oriented on an east-west axis and there are several large erroneous lakes in China including the mythical Chiamay Lacus. Even without the famous borders, this is a decorative map with several ships and sea monsters in the seas, wild animals in the interior and a fine title cartouche.

References: cf Yeo #24.

Condition: A

Narrow side margins, as issued with masking of borders evident.

Estimate: $1,200 - $1,400

Sold for: $950

Closed on 3/2/2005

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