Influential c.18th hand coloured engraved map of the islands of Japan by Nicholas Bellin the French Royal cartographer, featuring a rococo title cartouche.
This map was published during the Edo or ‘Tokugawa’ period, during which Edo (modern-day Tokyo) was the capital. From the early part of the c.17th until the mid-1800s, the Japanese had in place a policy of ‘Sakoko’, ie limited foreign relations and trade with other nations. Foreigners were prevented from entering Japan and it was illegal for any Japanese to leave. Trade was restricted to certain ports with the Dutch East India Company and private Chinese traders being permitted to operate only in Nagasaki. In this map some geographical features like the Noto Peninsula and the Oki Islands are distorted and which several mapmakers later included the same erroneous details in their maps, perpetuating the errors.
From Prevost, Abbe. Histoire générale des voyages : ou, Nouvelle collection de toutes les relations de voyages par mer et par terre qui ont été publiées jusqu’à présent dans les différentes langues de toutes les.. Paris
References:
Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967. 65403.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 p.241.
Phillips, P. A List of Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress. Washington 1973: P638
Tooley, R.V., Mapping America, p208-209.
Collections:
David Rumsey: List No: 6903.277
Maritime Museum Greenwich: 211
National Library Australia: Bib ID 6058912
State Library New South Wales: RB/DQ909.8A
Bibliotheque Nationale de France: Identifier: ark:/12148/bpt6k201024v
State Library Victoria: RARESF 910.8 P929H
