Current Auction
Lot 650
Current Auction

Hondius' Richly Ornamented Map of Japan

"Iaponia", Mercator/Hondius

Subject: Japan & Korea

Period: 1623 (published)

Publication: Gerardi Mercatoris - Atlas sive Cosmographicae

Color: Hand Color

Size:
17.6 x 13.6 inches
44.7 x 34.5 cm
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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. Latin text on verso.

See also lot 789 for Lutz Walter's Japan - A Cartographic Vision - European Printed Maps from the Early 16th to the 19th Century that describes this map.

References: Hubbard #13; Walter #22; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #8450:1A.1.

Condition: B+

A nice impression on a lightly toned sheet with light, scattered foxing primarily confined to the blank margins. A tear in top blank margin has been archivally repaired, and there is an old paper repair in the bottom margin on recto.

Estimate: $1,100 - $1,400

Current High Bid:
$0

Reserve: Reserve Not Met
Next Bid: $550

Bid Increments
$500 - $999$50
$1,000 - $2,499$100
$2,500 - $4,999$250
$5,000 - $9,999$500
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