Title of the map :
"CHINA Veteribus SINARUM REGIO nunc Incolis TAME dicta"
Large, unusual and nice antique copper engraved map of CHINA, by Jan Jansson (1588-1664).
The imaginatif "Chiamay lacus" is located on the map. We can see the route of the Great Wall.
Several large lakes dominate the topography of this nice engraved map of China. The Great Wall forms the northern boundary of China. The fictitious Chiamay Lacus is shown with numerous rivers flowing south into India and Siam. Korea is depicted as an island separated from the mainland by a narrow strait. Taiwan is located in a roughly correct position, named as both Pakan al I. Formosa, with the additional place names of Gillira, Wankan, and Tayoan.
The map is richly embellished with European sailing ships and Chinese sampans, a decorative distance scale, and a title cartouche flanked by a Chinese man and woman.
Jansson's map is very similar to Blaeu's map of the same name, with a few differences: the calligraphic Oceanus Chinensis appears in three lines; the ships to the north and south of Japan are sailing towards the east rather than the west; and there are no lines of longitude. French text on verso
Size with margins : 56,5 x 47,8 cm / 22 x 18,5 inches
Edition : Amsterdam, c. 1646, 17th century, French edition.
Condition : good condition, a small repair in lower margin, japanese paper on verso, old colors.
Jan Jansson, or Johannes Janssonius, or Jan Janszoon (1588-1664) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher who lived and worked in Amsterdam in the 17th century. He produced his first maps of France and Italy in 1616. In 1623 Janssonius owned a bookstore in Frankfurt am Main, later also in Danzig, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin, Königsberg, Geneva and Lyon. He formed a partnership with his brother in law Henricus Hondius, and together they published atlases as Mercator/Hondius/Janssonius.
Under the leadership of Janssonius, the Hondius Atlas was steadily enlarged. Renamed Atlas Novus, it had three volumes in 1638, one fully dedicated to Italy. In 1646, a fourth volume came out with "English County Maps", a year after a similar issue by Joan Blaeu. Janssonius' maps are similar to those of Blaeu, and he is often accused of copying from his rival, but many of his maps predate those of Blaeu and/or covered different regions. By 1660, at which point the atlas bore the appropriate name "Atlas Major", there were 11 volumes, containing the work of about a hundred credited authors and engravers. It included a description of "most of the cities of the world" (Townatlas), of the waterworld (Atlas Maritimus in 33 maps), and of the Ancient World (60 maps). The eleventh volume was titled Atlas of the Heavens (a type of celestial cartography) by Andreas Cellarius. Editions were printed in Dutch, Latin, French, and a few times in German.
After Janssonius's death, the publishing company was continued by his son-in law, Johannes van Waesbergen. The London bookseller Moses Pitt attempted publication of the Atlas Major in English, but ran out of resources after the fourth volume in 1683.
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Due to the age an type of paper, some imperfections are to be expected. Please examine the images provided carefully, and if you have any questions please ask and we will be happy to help you
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A Certification of Authenticity can be issued on request.