"Xansi, Imperii Sinarum Provincia Secunda", Blaeu, Johannes

This map of the Xansi (Shanxi) province features the Great Wall of China to the north. A legend at bottom left illustrates towns of various sizes, forts, and the locations of iron mines. The map is adorned with two decorative strapwork cartouches. 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) #8422:2.

Condition: B

Full contemporary color with color offsetting, toning, and some short edge tears that are well away from the image. There are centerfold separations in the bottom blank margin and at top entering less than 1" into the image that have been closed on verso with archival tape.