Catalog Archive
Auction 137, Lot 746

"Iaponia", Mercator/Hondius

Subject: Korea and Japan

Period: 1613 (circa)

Publication: Atlas sive Cosmographicae

Color: Hand Color

Size:
17.5 x 13.5 inches
44.5 x 34.3 cm
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Superb map of Japan based on the Ortelius/Teixeira model with Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku depicted with approximately the correct proportions. Korea is shown as an island, although Hondius added a notation to the effect that is was uncertain if the region was an island or a peninsula. The map is richly ornamented with two strapwork cartouches, a European and Japanese ship, and a sea monster. Hondius engraved this map for inclusion in his edition of Mercator's atlas after he acquired Mercator's plates. It appeared in the editions of Atlas Sive Cosmographia from 1606 to 1636. Dutch text on verso.

References: Walter OAG #12.

Condition: A

Wide margins with two printer's creases at top left and bottom center. Some expert paper repairs in bottom blank margin, far from map image.

Estimate: $2,100 - $2,500

Sold for: $1,500

Closed on 9/14/2011

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