A most sought-after map of China. Decorative border vignettes including views of the cities of Quinzay and Macao along the top border with the wheeled wind machines and persecution of Christians in Japan.
The side borders illustrate the inhabitants of China and Japan, the Japanese samurai or mercenaries possibly the first representations of Japanese on a European map.

Korea is a long island and Japan is presented on the Ortelius-Teixeira model.

There are interesting notes throughout the map on various historical & mythical aspects of the region, including where men are seduced by wonderful illusions and where fireproof cloth is woven. The English text on verso provides an equally fascinating description of Chinese culture. George Humble's imprint at Popshead Alley is at lower right.

Reference: Cortazzi, plt. 29, Manasek #56.




John Speed (1552-1629)

John Speed is probably the most famous English mapmaker. He was born in Cheshire in 1552. He lived in Moorfields in London with his wife Susanna who bore him twelve sons and six daughters. He became a freeman of the Merchant Taylors Company like his father. He followed his father’s trade as a tailor until about the age of fifty. From a young age he pursued his passion for history and cartography. He produced maps for the Queen and the Merchant Tailors Company. As a result of his joining the society of Antiquarians his mapmaking skills came to the attention of Sir Fulke Greville, who became his patron. Queen Elizabeth granted him the use of a room in the Custom House.
His maps are distinctive and decorative and are filled with historical detail and heraldic devices. Speed was influenced by the earlier works of Saxton, Norden and others, however much of the up-to-date information especially relating to the town plan details drawn on his maps was his. He must have wasted little time in his preparatory work for the first individual maps. For his atlas, Theatre of the Empire of the Great Britain all Speed’s draft material was taken to Amsterdam, to be engraved by the talented Dutch engraver, Jodocus Hondius, the plates were then returned to London for printing.
In 1627, just before he died, Speed published A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World which became the first World Atlas produced by an Englishman.




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Rare, antique map of  The Kingdome of China.Rare, antique map of  The Kingdome of China.
The Kingdome of China.

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