This is a smaller, later edition of Johann Nieuhoff's map from his Dutch description of the Chinese Empire. which originally was one of the few non-Jesuit sources on China of this period. Nieuhoff was the official chronicler and draughtsman for the first embassy to China by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), then at the height of its power. His record of the trip became the most important source of information about China for Europe in the 17th century. Nieuhoff published his work in 1665 with a larger map of China that was nearly devoid of details, as the embassy was not allowed to venture into the interior. The following year, another Dutch edition of Nieuhoff's work appeared with this smaller, updated map of China. The embassy's route from Canton to Peking is still shown by way of rivers and canals, but the route includes far fewer place names than the original map. In contrast, this new edition includes more detail inland, with numerous place names throughout the map. Both maps extend to include Korea, Japan and Formosa, none of which are detailed, however this edition features an unnamed Chimay Lacus along the western edge of the map, with four rivers flowing south. The map is adorned with a strapwork cartouche.

The differences in the two maps may be attributed to the fact that the second edition of Nieuhoff's work was a pro-Catholic edition. It eliminated information that could be seen as offensive to Roman Catholics, including passages that were anti-Catholic or anti-Jesuit. This smaller edition of Nieuhoff's map is apparently much rarer than the first edition.

References: Caboara #64.1.

Condition: B+

A sharp impression on a bright sheet with a jester watermark. The top margin has been extended, and a number of chips along the sides of the sheet have been professionally repaired, with a portion of the border replaced in facsimile.