An Early Map of Korea and Japan:   Japonia

Original copperplate engraved map
Fine Handcolor
375 x 500 mm
Map #  AS-166
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One of the earliest views of Japan and Korea.   This is a very attractive, boldly engraved map.

The map is based on Abraham Ortelius' map which in turn was based on the manuscripts of the Portuguese Jesuit, Luis Teixeria, cartographer to the Court of the Spanish King.    Although Hondius follows Ortelius' misrepresentation of Korea (Corea) as an island, he does add a text notation within Korea in which he suggests that it might not be an island.   

A strapwork title cartouche is at the top right.  A European ship sails in the waters north of Japan and a Chinese junk sails below Japan in the "China Ocean".   A sea monster is below Korea. 

Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) was the founder of the famous 17th century Dutch map publishing family.  Hondius, along with sons Jodocus II and Henricus and son-in-law Jan Janssonius, was prominent in Dutch cartography and competed with the emerging Blaeu family map business. 

When Jodocus Hondius acquired the copperplates of the Mercator atlas and decided to re-issue them in 1606, he prepared this map for inclusion in his Atlas sive Cosmographicae......   This map is from an edition of 1613.  Latin text on verso with a signature of seven "t"s and pages 350 & 351.  (Van der Krogt, p.708).  This map last appeared in an atlas in 1636.  There were later maps of Japan included in the Mercator-Hondius series of atlases by Henricus Hondius and by Janssonius from 1636 to c.1680.

References:  Van der Krogt, Peter.  Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, vol. 1. 't Goy-Houten: HES Publishers,1997.

Fine Condition.  Solid paper, with binder's stub remaining on verso.  A strong impression, finely colored, with wide margins.   Some minor discoloration to outer parts of wide margins.