Montanus' work was perhaps the greatest illustrated book on the New World produced in the seventeenth century. It contained over one hundred beautifully engraved plates, views, and maps of North and South America. The plates vividly depict forts, festivals, occupations, Dutch fleets, battles, religious rites, and customs of the native inhabitants. This important work was translated into German by Olivier Dapper, and into English by John Ogilby. Several of the plates were later acquired by Pierre Vander Aa.

This panoramic view of Tokyo is one the earliest European views of the city. The city stretches across the horizon with 62 important buildings noted in the key. Illustrations of a Japanese wedding procession fill the foreground with the bride's carriage approaching from the left and the groom's retinue at right. Printed on two joined sheets, as issued.

Arnoldus Montanus produced several important geographical works, including a description of Japan, based on information obtained from his close contacts with the Dutch East India Company. His description of various journeys to the court at Edo feature some of the earliest views of Japan. This view appeared in a Dutch edition in 1669, titled Gedenkwaerdige Gesantschappen der Oost-Indische Maetschappy in't Vereenigde Nederland, aen de Kaisaren van Japan, a German edition in 1670, titled Denckwürdige Gesandtschafften der Ost-Indischen Gesellschaft in den Vereinigten Niederländern an unterschiedliche Keyser von Japan, and a French edition in 1680, titled Ambassades Memorables de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales des Provinces Unies, vers les empereurs du Japon.

References: Rumsey #13390.

Condition: B+

A crisp impression on sheets with a jester watermark, issued folding and now flattened. There is light toning, a small hole in the sky that has been professionally repaired, and remnants of paper tape along the edges of the sheet on verso.