Asia Continent Arabia India China Japan c. 1655 Ortelius rare miniature map

Asiae Nova Desc.

(Asia, Middle East, Ottoman Empire, Arabia, Anatolia, Persia, Iran, India, Russian Empire, China, Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan.).

Issued c. 1655, Venice by Turrini.

Charming, attractive well-preserved 17th century engraved miniature map with lovely hand color. Scarce re-issue of Marchetti's 1598 plate. Note the distorted and elongated shapes, particularly Arabia, but everywhere else as well.

We notice that Japan, situated at the upper right, is rendered in a distorted and entirely inaccurate fashion, and is referred to as "Maguche", short for Yamaguchi, one of Japan's southernmost islands.

Remains a nice looking example, clean with a pleasing age patina. Any age flaws mostly minor and easy to overlook or forgive. Text on reverse as always.

Sheet Measures c. 5 1/2" x 3 1/2".

Engraved Area Measures c. 4" x 3".

Cartographic Reference(s):

Koeman, III, Ort [70].

Burden, Mapping of America, 48-50 (mentioning this Marchetti 1598 edition).

[R26260].