China veteribus Sinarum Regio

Beautiful map of China by one of the most important mapmakers of the Dutch Golden Age. Also showing Japan and embellished with ships.

Geographically, this is one of the last Dutch maps to use the geographical model first drawn by Ludovico Teixera, Cartographer to the King of Portugal and based on early Jesuit surveys. Teixera conveyed this survey to Abraham Ortelius who issued it in his atlas "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum". It was used as a model by Dutch mapmakers until 1655. It is characterised by the narrowness of China from east to west and the portrayal of a natural mountainous border which is then continued by the Great Wall. Korea is shown as an island and Japan is also based on a survey provided again by Teixera. Latin text on verso (image available on request). Original hand colour. [SEAS4898]