China Veteribus Sinarum Regio nunc Incolis Tame dicta

Book Description

Amsterdam: 1636 [but 1653]. Engraving with period outline colour. 16 1/8 x 19 3/4 inches. 19 1/2 x 23 3/8 inches. Jansson's map of China is identical to Blaeu's, for all practical purposes. It pre-dates the great boon to European mapping of China brought by Father Martino Martini in the 1650s. Though certain elements are in place, vast stretches of the interior are based on rumor and reports of earlier Jesuit missionaries. The Great Wall, for example, is shown but without any accuracy. Large portions of the southeastern coast show evidence of direct experience, however, and the shape of Korea improves upon earlier efforts. This is from one of three editions of the Novus Atlas issued with Spanish text. The Spanish editions were published in 1653, 1656 and 1666.

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