A MAPP OF THE ISLES OF IAPON [JAPON]. With Inset: MAPP OF TUNQUIN

[London 1680, A. Goodbid & J. Playford].Copper engraved map, as issued, uncolored, 5 folds, very good examle, verso with minor restorations, now solid, sheet: 54 x 38.5 cm., English text, with margins. EXCEPTIONALY RARE . . *** **** *** . . . AN EXCEPTIONALLY ILLUSIVE EARLY MAP OF . . . JAPAN, TONKIN, [N. VIETNAM], TONKIN & PART OF KOREA . . *** JAPAN: This is RARE graphic view of Honshu, Japan and her near-by surrounding islands. . It has pictorial and graphic illustrations of geological features, foot roads, mountains, rivers, important cities, ports, military sites, situated in the "Oriental Ocean," with a large compass in the center. At the top is a square cartouche enclosing the title: "A MAPP OF THE ISLES OF I A P O N." . "Tanegaxima [Tanigashima] the home of the first foreigners to visit Japan in 1549 [Portuguese Jesuits] is also clearly noted for its early importance. [On Kagoshima] . The main island of Honshu shows a large number of cities, including "MIACO OR MEACO" [Kyoto the ancient capital], coastal sites, Shikoku and the inland sea, "QUAN TO" [Kanto] area, and "OH OR" the northern parts of Shikoku. "THE LAND OF IESSE" [YESSO or Hokkaido is just east of "THE STREIGHTS OF SANGAR." . At the bottom is "THE SOUTH SEA," with a scale of "Leagues of Iapon are like the little miles of France." . * TONKIN: At the upper left corner is an inset: "MAPP OF TUNQUIN," 15 x 19 cm. This depicts Tonkin in North Vietnam, showing the many river systems, deltas, small islands, Hanoi, and mountain chains, one mountain near the top shows many small people indicating "tribal" homelands of minority peoples. . Near the mouth of the "Cieco" & "Kecou" rivers is "Bodego" or the ancient capital, today called Hanoi. The map shows a large number of small houses and two large castles. Eastwards of this is another place in the mountains with other population, indicated by a group of people. Important other cities, castles are located along rivers, one at the top "River of Cimpa" [Champa]. This map also has a directional compass. It shows but does not name the Gulf of Tonkin. . To the north-east shows: "The Coast of China Unhabited." inset of Tunquin (North Vietnam) depicts the river system centered on Hanoi. . * KOREA: At the left lower margin is: "THE INES OF COREER," and the The Sea of Korea. . Korea is shown close proximity to Japan, near "The Kindgome of Salkock," Nangisaqvi [Nagasaki & Kagoshima]. This was the home of the Dutch East India trading company. . *** LATIN NAMES: The names on this map are written in the Latin spelling, most likely taken from Portuguese Jesuits, the earliest visitors to Japan in the mid-15th century. . *** The map size is 52 x 36 cm., which covers all of the engraved measurements. The map was extracted from his famous book: translated into English: "THE SIX VOYAGES OF JEAN BAPTIST" from the original in French: "LES SIX VOYAGES DE JEAN BAPTISTE TAVERNIER." . * THE PUBLISHER/BOOKSELLER: Moses Pitt, a British bookseller and publisher, released this English edition of Tavernier's original French map in 1680. . * THE CARTOGRAPHER/AUTHOR: Jean Baptiste Tavernier [1605-1689]: He was a famous French traveler who took on several voyages and land journeys throughout India, Persia, and Asia. . *** CONDITION: The map was engraved on thick rag paper. It is nearly 340 years old. It is in remarkable and very solid condition. Nevertheless, it is exceptionally bright, with no stains. . The map is stable and solid. Since it originally folded to fit inside Tavernier's book, naturally there are old fold lines. Some of folds these have been either restored, mended or reinforced on the verso. There were a number of small pin or worm holes from when the map was folder. All have been nicely restored from the verso. . There is a minor bit of discoloration to the upper margin just above the engraving "plate" mark, it could be matted out when framed. . By and large a fairly nice example of a map which has become illusive and seldom found. . *.…