Catalog Archive
Auction 131, Lot 796

"A New Map of Great Tartary, and China, with the Adjoyning Parts of Asia, taken from Mr. de Fer's Map of Asia", Wells, Edward

Subject: Asia - Eastern

Period: 1714 (published)

Publication: A New Set of Maps both of Antient and Present Geography

Color: Hand Color

Size:
19.5 x 14 inches
49.5 x 35.6 cm
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This interesting English map covers from the Black Sea through Japan. It is based on Nicolas de Fer's L'Asie suivant les Nouvelles (1700), which presented some interesting ideas concerning the northeast coast of Asia with a continuous land bridge extending from Korea to North America. Well's map is filled with interesting explanatory notes including the note on the coastline above Japan that stretches eastward and off the map in the direction of America, "All this Coast, as well as that of Japon, are drawn after the Portuguese Charts, which are very different from the French Sr. Sansons." Two insets, both showing the region northeast of China, were compiled from two different Jesuit reports. The map is decorated with a fine title cartouche with the arms of the Duke of Gloucester, to whom the map is dedicated. Engraved by Sutton Nicholls.

References:

Condition: A

Minor toning in the blank margins.

Estimate: $275 - $350

Sold for: $375

Closed on 3/17/2010

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