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 superb engraving depicts the Dayro's court in Meaco (modern-day Kyoto), which was the capital of Japan. 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 engraving 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.

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Condition: A

A crisp impression on a sheet with a hint of toning.