Hondius' Map of China, Korea, and Japan. China, Korea & Japan. Mercator/Hondius, China, from Gerardi Mercatoris - Atlas sive Cosmographicae, 1623 (published). Hand Color. Besides China, this map depicts Korea as an elongated island and Japan on the Ortelius-Teixeira model. The map contains rudimentary geographical information, as there was very little actually known of the region during the early part of the seventeenth century. The interior of China is dominated by several large lakes, and the mythical Chiamai Lacus forms the headwaters of five large rivers in northeastern India. The northwest coastline of America appears in the upper right corner with a notation that refers to the Tartar hordes that inhabit the region. The map is beautifully engraved with a moiré patterned sea and richly embellished with strapwork cartouches, a deer, a fox, a sea monster, a European and a Japanese ship, and a unique wind-powered wagon. In one cartouche, a scene depicts the Japanese persecution of a Christian missionary, probably a reference to the martyrdoms in Nagasaki in 1597. Latin text on verso.

A crisp impression with attractive color on a lightly toned sheet. A short centerfold separation confined to the bottom blank margin has been archivally repaired on verso. Grade: B+

13.5 x 18.1 in