Carte du Royaume de Kau-Li ou Coree

Bellin's map of the Korean Peninsula and a small part of northeast China


Although the shape of the Peninsula is based on the map drawn by d'Anville in 1737, the cartouche makes a reference to an English map as a source. In fact, this map is a direct copy with a French transliteration of Thomas Kitchin's map of 1747. Kitchin's own map is derived from French Jesuit reports sent back by their missions during the campaign into Manchuria by the Kangxi Emperor in the early 18th century.

Nevertheless, due to a very similar map by Bellin appearing in Resnal's "Histoire Generale des Voyages" together with this map from the Petit Atlas Maritime, this is one of the best known maps of the Peninsula from the 18th century. 

Of particular note is the use of the name "Mer de Coree" or "Sea of Corea" on the eastern coast of the Peninsula.


Coloured. [SEAS5590]