The most decorative map of China, and the only one with figured borders. The geographical content is after the 1606 China map by Jodocus Hondius.

"This rare early map of China by English mapmaker John Speed, was published in his world atlas 'A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World' (1627-1676), the first world atlas by an Englishman. The maps in this atlas took as their model the Dutch 'carte-a-figures' maps of the period and included decorative border vignettes. The map's vignettes include views of the cities of Quinzay (Hangzhou) and Macao along the top border, along with wind carts and the persecution of Christians in Japan. The side borders illustrate Speed's vision of the inhabitants of China and Japan.The Japanese soldiers are possibly the first such representations on a European map. The map includes Korea as an elongated island and Japan on the Ortelius-Texeira model. The view of Macao is a fine bird's eye view copied from de Bry."

(Barron).

Antique maps of Japan
Antique maps of China
Antique maps of Korea