"Asia Noviter Delineata", Blaeu, Willem

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 French edition. The eastern coastline of Asia is severely truncated, Korea is shown as an island, 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. Van der Krogt (Vol. II) #8000:2; cf. Yeo #24.

Condition: B

Full contemporary color with light soiling on a sheet that has been professionally remargined to better accommodate framing with a portion of the border at bottom right skillfully replaced in facsimile. There are separations along the centerfold and a few edge tears, all of which have been professionally repaired.