Hondius' Richly Ornamented Map of Japan

"Iaponia", Mercator/Hondius

Superb map of Japan based on the Ortelius/Teixeira model with Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku depicted with approximately the correct proportions. Korea is shown as an island, although Hondius added a notation to the effect that is was uncertain if the region was an island or a peninsula. The map is richly ornamented with two strapwork cartouches, a European and Japanese ship, and a sea monster. Hondius engraved this map for inclusion in his edition of Mercator's atlas after he acquired Mercator's plates. It appeared in the editions of Atlas Sive Cosmographia from 1606 to 1636. This example has Latin text on verso, and was published between 1613-19.

References: Walter #22; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #8450:1A.1.

Condition: A

Full original color on watermarked paper with a few faint spots and light toning along sheet edges.