#6527 Seste deel van de Nieuwe Atlas, oft Tooneel des Aerdrijcx [Sixthe volume of the New Atlas or Theatre of the World, Joannes Blaeu].
Amsterdam, Blaeu, January 7, 1655.
This is the first atlas of China published in the West, and the first and only edition which appeared in Dutch. Four Latin editions would follow this edition in 1655 (3x) and 1662. French editions appeared in 1655 and 1663, a German edition would follow in 1656, and a Spanish edition in 1658/1659.
Janssonius’atlas of Chinese provinces would follow in his Atlas Novus of 1675.
This atlas is a relevant early document concerning its naming of islands in the proximity of China. It allows to trace Chinese sources on which it is based. It is a document concerning Chinese cultural heritage of fundamental importance.
The atlas contains an engraved title page and 17 maps: A map of China, followed by 33 pages of text written by Martini to explain how he compiled his maps from the Chinese originals; followed by maps and descriptions of 15 provinces, an appendix with a map of Japan and text about Japan (from p. 211-212), a register for place names in all 15 provinces, (p.213 to (unnumbered) 222). An appendix of the kingdom of Catay, (numbered j-xviii). And a History of the Tartar War, (p. 1-40). The names of the maps and provinces:
0 China, p. 0
The atlas altogether contains 373 pages, weighs 6.5 kgs and it is issued in very large folio measuring 560 x 365 mm. It is bound in modern but timeless parchment and has IOAN | BLAEU | NIEUWE | ATLAS | SESTE DEEL in modern lettering on its spine. The atlas is complete and is printed on fresh white paper without any damage. Two maps have a shade of browning.
This atlas was based on the writings of Martinus
Martini, (1614-1661), a Jesuit missionary, cartographer and writer from Trento, Italy,
who went to China
in 1643 and who traveled there extensively. When he was ordered to Rome in
1651, he took with him more than 50 Chinese books and maps, among them a copy
of the manuscript atlas of the Chinese provinces by Zhu Siben,
compiled in 1311-1312, with revisions from the printed atlas by Lo Honxian (1555), and his own extensive notes on China.
Martini’s ship was captured by the Dutch and brought to Java. Martini was sent
to Amsterdam
where he arrived in 1654. During the voyage to Europe aboard the Dutch East-India
men, Martini made transcriptions of his texts and wrote his own descriptions of
China
in Latin. The text in Blaeu’s atlas, translated into Dutch, is Martini’s own
account, written in the first person, of the geography, history, manners and
customs and history of the Chinese empire and its people. He also collected
longitudes and latitudes of practically all place names occurring on his maps,
and essays on Catay and the Chinese wars against the
Tartars. Martini returned to China,
and was head of the mission in Hangchow, 1661,
where he died.
This atlas may not only shed light further on the sources Martini used for his
maps, but the numerous texts are also an highly
interesting account of the characteristics of China, showing their advanced
cultural and scientific level in the 17th century.
Martini gives an enormous amount of information on the provinces he describes in terms of their cities, their produce, their fortifications, laws, internal and external wars, religion etc. which were all translated from Martini’s Latin notes for this atlas into Dutch. Below, we will provide a fairly detailed list what can be found in the atlas on each page.
The price of this unique atlas in excellent condition is Euro 19,500.
A CD-Rom with the complete atlas is enclosed
Contents of the atlas:.
(0a) Spine with modern text.
(0b) Front cover of modern parchment
Page 1,2, my numbering, modern blind leaves
3 modern leaf, 4 old leaf
5 blank, 6 Title page in Dutch/Latin
7 blank, 8 dedication in Dutch
9 dedication in Dutch, 10 dedication in Latin
11 privilege in Dutch
12,13 Map of China
14,15 Preface to the reader p.1 (atlas numbering)
16,17 Preface to the reader p. 2,3
18,19 Preface to the reader p. 4,5
20,21 Preface to the reader p. 6,7
22,23 Preface to the reader p. 8,9
24,25 Preface to the reader p. 10,11
26,27 Preface to the reader p. 12,13
28,29 Preface to the reader p. 14,15
30,31 Preface to the reader p. 16,17
32,33 Preface to the reader p. 18,19
34,35 Preface to the reader p. 20,21
36,37 Preface to the reader p. 22,Eastern Tartary p. 23
38,39 Eastern Tartary, p. 24,25
40,41 Eastern Tartary p. 26, kingdom of Niulhan p. 27
42,43 kingdom of Tanya, p. 28, kingdom of Samahania, p. 29
44,45 kingdom of Sifan, p. 30, kingdom of Laos, p. 30,31
46,47 kingdom of Gannan, p. 32,33
48,49 area of Peking p. 34, blank
50,51 Map of Peking/Pecheli
52,53 blank, Peking, p. 35
54,55 Xuntien, p. 36,37
56,57 Xuntien, p. 38,39
58,59 Xuntien, p. 40, Paoting, Hokien p. 41
60,61 Chintung, Xunte, p. 42, Quang Ping, Taming, p. 43
62,63 Jung Ping, p. 44,45
64,65 Xansi, p. 46, blank
66,67 Map of Xansi
68,69 Tayuen, p.47
70,71 Pingyang, p. 48,49
72,73 Taitung, Lugan, p. 50, Fuencheu, p. 51
74,75 Sin, p. 52, blank
76,77 Map of Xensi
78,79 blank, Xensi, p.53
80,81 Xensi, p. 54, Sigan, p. 55
82,83 Xensi, p. 56,57
84,85 Fungciang, p. 58, Hanchung, p. 59
86,87 Pingleang, Cungang, p. 60, Linyao, p. 61
88,89 Kingyang, p. 62, Jengan, p. 62,63
90,91 Jengan, p. 64, blank
92,93 Map of Xantung
94,95 blank, Xantung, p. 65
96,97 Xantung, p, 66, Cinan p. 67
98,99 Yenchew, p. 68, Tungchang, p. 69
100,101 Cingcheu, p. 70, Tengcheu, Laicheu, p. 71
102,103 islands, fortifications, p. 72, blank
104,105 Map of Honan
106,107 blank, Honan, p. 73
108,109 Caifung, p. 74, Queite, Changte, p. 75
110,111 Gueihoei, Hoaiking, p. 76, Honan, p. 77
112,113 Nanyang, Juning, p. 78, Juning, p. 79
114,115 Suchuen, p. 80, blank
116,117 Map of Suchuen
118,119 blank, Suchuen, p. 81
120,121 Chingtu, p. 82, Paoning, Xunking, p. 83
122,123 Siucheu, Chungking, p. 84, Queicheu, p. 85
124,125 Lunggan, Mahu, p. 86, Tunchuen, Muicheu, p. 87
126,127 Kiating, Kiung, Liecheu, Yacheu, p. 88, fortifications p. 89
128,129 mountains, p. 90, blank
130,131 Map of Huquang (slight browning)
132,133 blank, Huquang, Vuchang, p. 91
134,135 Hanyang, p. 92, Siangyang, p. 93
136,137 Tegan, Hoangcheu, p. 94, Kingcheu, p. 95
138,139 Yocheu, p. 96, Changxa, p. 97
140,141 Paoking, Henghcheu, p. 98, Changte, Xincheu, p. 99
142,143 Jungcheu, Chingtien, p. 100, Chinyang, Cingcheu, p. 101
144,145 Chincheu, p. 102, blank
146,147 Map of Kiangsi (very slight browning)
148,149 blank, Kiangsi, p. 103
150,151 Kiangsi, p. 104, Nanchang, p. 105
152,153 Iaocheu, p. 106, Quangsin, p. 107
154,155 Nankang, Kievkang, p. 108, Kienchang, p. 109
156,157 Vucheu, Linkiang, p. 110, Kiegn, Xuicheu, p. 111
158,159 Juencheu, Cancheu, p. 112, Nangan, p. 113
160,161 churches, p. 114
162,163 Map of Nanking or Kiangnan
164,165 blank, Kiangnan, p. 115
166,167 Kiangnan, p. 116, Kiangning, p. 117
168,169 Kiangnin, p. 118,119
170,171 Fungyang, p. 120, Sucheu, p. 121
172,173 Sucheu, p. 122, Sunkiang, p. 123
174,175 Changcheu, p. 124, Chingkiang, p. 125
176,177 Yangcheu, Hoaigan, p. 126, Hoaigan, p. 127
178,179 Lucheu, Ganking, Taiping, p. 128, Ninque, Chicheu, Hoeicheu, p. 129
180,181 Hoeicheu, p. 130, Quangte, Hocheu, Chucheu, Siucheu, p. 131
182,183 Cheking, p. 132, blank
184,185 Map of Chekiang
186,187 blank, Chekiang, p. 135(!)
188,189 Chekiang, p. 136, (!) Hang Cheu p. 133 (!)
190,191 Chekiang, p. 134 (!), 137,
192,193 Kiahing, Hucheu, p. 138, Niencheu, Kinhoa, p. 139
194,195 Kiucheu, p. 140, Chucheu, p. 141
196,197 Xaohing, p. 142, Ningpo, p. 143
198,199 Taicheu, p. 144, Vencheu, p. 145
200,201 Venchieu, p. 146, blank
202,203 Map of Fokien
204,205 blank, Fokien, p. 147
206,207 Fokien, p. 148, Focheu, p. 149
208.209 Focheu, p. 150, Civencheu, p. 151
210,211 Changeu, p. 152, Kienning, p. 153
212,213 Kienning, p. 154, Jenping, p. 155
214,215 Tincheu, Hinghoa, p. 156, Xaouu, Poning, p. 157
216,217 Formosa, p. 158,159
218,219 Formosa p. 160, blank
220,221 Map of Quantung
222,223 blank, Quantung, p. 161
224,225 Quantung, p. 162, Quangcheu, p. 163
226,227 Quangcheu, p. 164, Xaocheu, p. 165
228,229 Nanhiung, p. 166, Hoeicheu, p. 167
230,231 Chaocheu, p. 168, Chaoking, p. 169
232,233 Kaocheu, Liencheu, p. 170, Luicheu, p. 171
234,235 Kiuncheu p. 172,173
236,237 Quangsi, p. 174, blank
238,239 Map of Quangsi
240,241 blank, Queilin, p. 175
242,243 Lieucheu, p. 176, Kingyuen, Pinglo, p. 177
244,245 Gucheu, p. 178, Cincheu, Nanning, p. 179
246,247 Taiping, p. 180, Suming. Chingan, Tiencheu, Sugen, Suching, p. 181
248,249 fortifications, p. 182, blank
250,251 Map of Queicheu
252,253 blank, Queicheu, p. 183
254,255 Queiyang, p. 184, Sucheu, Sunan, Chinyuen, p. 185
256,257 Xecien, Tunggin, Liping, p, 186, Tucho, Pugan, Jungning, p. 187
258,259 Chinning, Ganxun, Putting, Sintien, p. 188, Pingyue, Lungli, p. 189
260,261 Lungli, p. 190, blank
262,263 Map of Junnan
264,265 blank, Junnan, p. 191
266,267 Junnan, p. 192,193
268,269 Tali, p. 194, Lingan, p. 195
270,271 Cuhiung, Chinkiang, p. 196, Munghoa, Kingtung, Quangnan, p. 197
272,273 Quangsi, Chinyuen, Iungning, Xunning, p. 198, Kiocing, p. 199
274,275 Yaogan, Cioking, p. 200, Vuting, Cintien, Likiang, p. 201
276,277 Juenkiang, Junchang, p. 202, fortifications, p. 203
278,279 Lancang, Mopang, Mien, p. 204, Leaotung, p. 205
280,281 Leaotung, p. 206, Corea. P. 207
282,283 Corea, p. 208,209
284,285 Appendix Japon, p. 210, blank
286,287 Map of Japon
288,289 blank, Japon, p. 211
290,291 Japon, p. 212, Register longitudes and latitudes (1), p. 213
292,293 Register longitudes and latitudes (2,3)
294,295 Register longitudes and latitudes (4,5), p.216
296,297 Register longitudes and latitudes (6,7)
297,299 Register longitudes and latitudes (8,9)
300,301 Register longitudes and latitudes (10,11)
302,303 Register longitudes and latitudes (12,13)
304,305 Register longitudes and latitudes (14,15)
306,307 Register longitudes and latitudes (16,17)
308,309 Register longitudes and latitudes (18,19)
310,311 Register longitudes and latitudes (20), Catay (1)
312,313 Catay (2,3)
314,315 Catay (4,5)
316,317 Catay (6,7)
318,319 Catay (8,9)
320,321 Catay (10,11)
322,323 Catay (12,13)
324,325 Catay (14,15)
326,327 Catay (16,17)
328,329 Catay (18), History of Tartan war p. 1
330,331 History of Tartan war p. 2,3
332,333 History of Tartan war p. 4,5
334,335 History of Tartan war p. 6,7
336,337 History of Tartan war p. 8,9
338,339 History of Tartan war p. 10,11
340,341 History of Tartan war p. 12,13
342,343 History of Tartan war p. 14,15
344,345 History of Tartan war p. 16,17
346,347 History of Tartan war p. 18,19
348,349 History of Tartan war p. 20,21
350,351 History of Tartan war p. 22,23
352,353 History of Tartan war p. 24.25
354,355 History of Tartan war p. 26,27
356,357 History of Tartan war p. 28,29
358,359 History of Tartan war p. 30,31
360,361 History of Tartan war p. 32,33
362,363 History of Tartan war p. 34,35
364,365 History of Tartan war p. 36,37
366,367 Appendix p. 38,39
368,369 Appendix p. 40, blank
370,371 inner leaves blank
372,373 inner leaves blank
374,375 inner leaf, blank, inside back cover
376 back cover.
If needed, I can translate part or all of the 17th century Dutch texts into modern English.
Dr. Marcel van den Broecke
Cartographica Neerlandica
Soestdijkseweg 101
3721AA Bilthoven
Netherlands
Tel +31-30-2202396
Email: info@orteliusmaps.com