Cartographic Elegance: The Art and Science of 17th-Century Asian Maps, ca.1681

Duval Asia Map 1663 China Japan Korea Great Wall Antique French Cartography This elegant 17th-century map titled “L’Asie” is a finely executed French representation of the Asian continent by Pierre Duval, one of the foremost cartographers of Louis XIV’s France. Published in Paris in 1663, the map reflects a significant stage in European geographic knowledge, presenting Asia with increasing accuracy at a moment when global exploration, trade, and diplomatic contact were rapidly transforming Western understanding of the East. Most of the place names shown represent geographical entities that still exist today or once existed historically, giving the map strong continuity between early modern geography and the modern world. Particularly notable is the improved rendering of Japan and the Korean peninsula, both shown with greater accuracy than in earlier 16th-century maps. The lower islands of Japan are better proportioned, and Korea is clearly depicted as a peninsula rather than an island, marking an important correction in European cartography. China dominates the interior of the continent and is richly detailed with provinces, river systems, and cities. One of the most appealing features is the visible tracing of the Great Wall of China...

Antique map titled 'L'Asie selon les nouvelles observations de Messrs de l'Academie des Sciences etc'. The main focus of this important and scarce map of Asia is the delineation of the northeast part of the continent from Jesuit sources. The northeast coast is severely truncated with the discoveries of Nicolas Witsen shown, and the partial coastlines of Jesso and Compagnies Land are depicted to the north of Japan. Inset in the North Pacific is a map of that same region based on the information from Father Martino Martini. It shows Jesso connected to the mainland with a narrow strait between it and a huge Compagnies Land. An inset below, taken from Father Ferdinand Verbiest, illustrates the road between Peking and Kirin and Nincrita. Father Verbiest's world map of 1674, which he compiled for the Chinese, subsequently led to the Jesuits obtaining a commission to make a comprehensive topographical...

Antique 1803 Italian Map of Asia Including China Indoneseia India Very nice map of Asia. 1803. Additional information: Type: Map Country of Manufacturing: Europe Period: 19th centu...

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of China, Drawn from Surveys made by the Jesuit Missionaries, by order of the Emperor. The whole bein...