Asia Continent Arabia India China Japan c. 1655 Ortelius rare miniature map
Brian DiMambro- Antiquarian Books, Maps & Prints


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].