1588 Chinae
DESCRIPTION
This is an excellent example of the second state of Ortelius’ map of China, the first map of China to appear in a western atlas. The map is oriented to the west, with north to the right.
The map is taken directly from reports of the Portuguese mapmaker Luis Jorge de Barbuda (Ludovicus Georgius), who made a manuscript map of China which reached Ortelius via Arias Montanus.
First published in 1584, Ortelius' map of China is the earliest western printed map to focus on China and the first to illustrate the Great Wall of China, though only a small section of it. Richly detailed, the map provides significant information regarding an area of the world which was little known to the West. Tooley referred to the map as the standard map of the interior of China for over sixty years.
With its three lushly designed cartouches and many illustrations of indigenous shelters, modes of transportation and animals, this is one of Ortelius's richest engravings. Text in Spanish is on the verso.
CONDITION
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