"China", Mercator/Hondius

Besides China, this map depicts Korea as an elongated island and Japan on the Ortelius-Teixeira model. The map contains rudimentary geographical information, as there was very little actually known of the region during the early part of the seventeenth century. The interior of China is dominated by several large lakes and the mythical Chiamai Lacus forms the headwaters of five large rivers in northeastern India. The northwest coastline of America appears in the upper top corner with a notation that refers to the Tartar hordes that inhabit the region. The map is beautifully engraved with a moiré patterned sea and richly embellished with strapwork cartouches, a deer, a fox, a sea monster, a European and a Japanese ship, and a unique wind-powered wagon. In one cartouche, a scene depicts the Japanese persecution of a Christian missionary, probably a reference to the martyrdoms in Nagasaki in 1597. Latin text on verso.

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Condition: B+

Good impression and lovely old color. The paper is lightly toned and the centerfold has been professionally reinforced. There are hinge tape remnants on verso.