L'Asie Divisée en ses Empires, Royaumes, et Etats.
[Asia divided into its empires, kingdoms, and states]
Amsterdam: ELWE, Jan Barend, 1792 (dated)
Size (neatline): 58.2 x 47.0 cm / 22.9 x 18.5 in
Size (sheet): 65.0 x 54.4 cm / 25.6 x 21.4 in
Technique: Copper engraving
Colour: Hand coloured
Verso: Blank
Condition: Very good
Decorative Elwe reissue of Jaillot's map of Asia
Description
This beautiful, contemporary-coloured map of Asia was published by Jan Barend Elwe in 1792 in Amsterdam.
The map is richly detailed, with countless topographical features and placenames throughout. Relief and vegetation are rendered pictorially. Major settlements are symbolised through stylised buildings.
The map includes the following notable features, among other:
- Northeast Asia displays a conjectured coastline.
- The Gobi Desert is shown stippled.
- The Great Wall of China is depicted.
- The cartographic myth of Lake Chimay (Lac de Chiamay) is shown.
- Korea is rendered elongated.
- Hokkaido, known in the 18th century as “Ezo”, does not yet appear.
The partial cartographic obsolescence of the map at the time of its publication is due to it having been originally created by Alexis-Hubert Jaillot exactly one century prior to Elwe’s publication, then under the title “L’Asie divisée en ses Principales Regions, et ou se peut voir l’estendüe Des Empires, Monarchies, Royaumes, et Estats qui partagent présentement l’Asie”. It was based on an earlier map by Nicolas Sanson. Jaillot reworked and reissued the map several times after its initial publication. After Jaillot’s death, his map was copied by Reiner and Joshua Ottens, who engraved it anew, with only minor differences when compared to Jaillot’s version. Elwe eventually acquired the Ottens plate and changed only its imprint, publishing it under his own name.
An ornamental rococo-style title cartouche decorates the top left corner of the map. It is surmounted by the French royal coat of arms.
At top right, there is another cartouche, holding no less than nine distance scales.
The map shows a graticule and features the Arctic Circle, the Tropic of Cancer, and the equator.
A wonderful map of Asia with an interesting publishing history.
Condition
Very good.
Printed on watermarked paper, issued folding. Beautiful early colouring. A few faint stains, mostly contained to blank margins. A light crease in parallel to centrefold, on the left. Minor bottom centrefold split and small tear to the right, both contained to blank margin and closed on verso.
Item #: 02654
US $800.00