"Ciampagu [Iava Majjiore, Sondur, Condur on verso]", Bordone, Benedetto

This is the earliest known printed map devoted to Japan. The map shows a single island with an east-west orientation and the position of a major city roughly where Kyoto or Osaka is located on the main island of Honshu. Since the map was based solely on the writings of Marco Polo, any approximation to reality is probably coincidence. The map is included in the middle of a page of text and includes original color to distinguish the ocean. The verso contains an equally important early map of Southeast Asia showing three islands. This map is again based on the writings of Polo and while it names Java, the location suggests a possible view of Borneo and confusion about the numerous islands of this region. This map is uncolored and located at the top of the sheet of text.

References: Walter #5: Suarez, pg. 120.

Condition: A

Minor foxing in margins with very crisp impressions.