China: An Original 18th Century Hand-Colored Map by Emanuel Bowen , 1744

Description

This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of China, Drawn from Surveys made … more This is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of China, Drawn from Surveys made by the Jesuit Missionaries, by order of the Emperor. The whole being regulated by numerous astronomical observations" by Emanuel Bowen. It was published in 1744 in London in John Harris's "Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca" or "A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels". This highly detailed and colorful map depicts China, Korea, Taiwan (Formosa), the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the great cities of China and a portion of Mongolia in the north and Southeast Asia in the south..
The map is embellished with a Compass Rose in the lower right and an elaborate decorative title and distance scale cartouche in the lower left, which depicts Chinese architecture, pottery, a landscape with farm animals and a salesman sitting on the ground showing his wares to a standing wealthy appearing customer. Text in the upper left describes Jesuit surveys of China in the early 18th century.
This striking and beautifully hand-colored original 18th century map is printed on laid chain-linked paper with wide margins. The sheet measures 15.75" high and 19.75" wide. There is a vertical center fold, as issued. There are two tiny edge chips about the lower right corner. The map is otherwise in very good to excellent condition. less