1830 Australien (Südland) auch Polynesien oder Inselwelt, sammt der fünften Welttheil genannt
DESCRIPTION
A scarce early 19th-century map of the western Pacific world, encompassing East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australasia, and the far-reaching islands of Polynesia.
Issued in Augsburg by Johann Walch in 1830, the map combines geographic knowledge derived from eighteenth-century exploration with early nineteenth-century cartographic scholarship, offering a broad European interpretation of the Pacific basin at a pivotal moment in global mapping.
Asia and the Western Pacific
The map extends from China and the Korean Peninsula through Japan and the island chains of the western Pacific. Notably, the sea between Korea and Japan is labeled “Coreanische”, an early German designation for a body of water whose name remains politically and historically contested today. This terminology preserves a European naming convention that predates modern national disputes, reflecting how cartographers of the period absorbed and standardized regional geographic language.
Australasia and the Southern Regions
Australia appears as Neu Holland, with coastal outlines increasingly well established while the interior remains largely undefined, illustrating the limits of contemporary exploration before systematic inland surveys. New Guinea and adjacent islands are shown in detail, emphasizing the complex geography linking Southeast Asia to the Pacific. Maritime space dominates the composition, underscoring the primacy of sea travel in shaping European knowledge of the region.
Polynesia and Routes of Exploration
The central and eastern Pacific are densely labeled with island groups including the Caroline Islands, Marshall Islands, Society Islands, and Friendly Islands, many charted during eighteenth-century voyages of discovery. Dotted tracks trace the routes of major expeditions, visually documenting the progress of exploration across immense distances. Particularly evocative is the notation at Owaihi (Hawaii) marking the death of James Cook, transforming the map into a narrative record of exploration, cultural encounter, and conflict rather than a purely geographic statement.
About Johann Walch
Johann Walch was a prominent Augsburg publisher and engraver whose firm specialized in large-format, information-rich maps and atlases intended for educated European audiences. His maps are noted for their careful compilation of contemporary sources and for preserving transitional geographic knowledge just before the advent of modern scientific cartography.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622