China and Japan.

Bleau, Willem and Johannes. Chine & Japon. "China Veteribus Sinarum Regio nunc Incolis TAme dicta." Amsterdam: Johannes and Cornelius Blaeu. 1640 [but 1643-1645].
Copper engraved map of China with Japan from the 2nd edition of Blaeu's " Le Theatre du Monde ou Nouvel Atlas"Vol 2. Original outline colour; French text to verso.
'This edition ... is a much more advanced one than the edition of 1638/1640. The text has been reset' (Van der Krogt)
The map which is the first of Blaeu's maps of China has many mistakes and inaccuracies, for instance Korea is depicted as an island and Japan is lacking Hokkaido. In 1655 the map was replaced by the famous map of Father Martini, which corrected many of these inaccuracies.
Large decorative title cartouche and coat of arms with dedication to Theodore Bas, director of the V.O.C., many, apparently Dutch ships, to sea. Dark impression; evenly toned darker to edges; some scattered spotting, one darker large spot near dedicatory cartouche and another below in blank margin; centrefold split [approx. 120mm] at lower half with old repair to verso; paper fault to extreme lower right corner; light vertical crease to left side.

Willem Janszoon Blaeu [1571- 1668] had set up the business in Amsterdam 1596 following studies with the famous astonomer Tycho Brahe.
In 1630 Willhem published his first atlas "Atlas Appendix", having published maritime cartography, books, charts and pilot guides for previous thirty years.
Appointed Hydrographer of the V. O. C. ( United East India Company)in 1633 he died in 1638. leaving the company to his sons Joan and Cornelius
Of Cornelius little is know; his name appearing on in the prefaces of books and atlases only until c1645.

Dr Joan Blaeu [ 1596-1673] who had studied at Leiden took over the management of the business and established its fame. He was also appointed Hydrographer to the V. O. C. ( 1638), but his interests leant more to geography than maritime cartography. His aim was" a full description of heaven, earth and water" ( Koeman) which was unachievable. but his work produced the magnificent "Atlas Major" and the Town books of the Netherlands and Italy; works unsurpassed in history and modern times.

The "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum " or "Atlas Novus" Willem Blaeu's great project enlarging the "Appendix" was advertised in 1634, was first published in a preliminary edition in 1635. (preface dated 10-3-1634) two volumes.
The final edition comprising again two volumes with 109 & 99 maps respectively with German text also published 1635; an edition with Dutch text, (preface dated 22-4-1635) 104 & 103 maps; French text( preface dated 1-7-1635) 105 & 103 maps; and with Latin text (preface dated "ipsis Aprillis")105 & 102 maps.
Van der Krogt II, p.150 and 2:212.2 ;Koeman:Bl 17: S [221]. 417 by 540mm (16½ by 21¼ inches).   ref: 2531  €1500