4. Vicenzo Maria Coronelli. Parte Occidentale della China / Parte Orientale della China, Divisa nelle sue Provincie, e dedicata Al Molto Rev. Padre Antonio Baldigiani della Compagnia di Gesu Professore delle Matematiche nell’ Universi tà del Collegio Romano, Dal P. M. Coronelli M. C. Cosmografo della Ser.^ma Rep. Di Venetia” (Venice: Coronelli, 1696–98). Published in Isolario. Two conjoined double-page copper engraved sheets, together 24 1/2 x 35” plus margins. Black and white, strong impression. Titles in two separate elaborate cartouches surrounded by many mapmaking instruments and cosmographic apparatus. The left cartouche surmounted by the Jesuit insignia. The scale cartouche in the u. r. incorporates instruments considered symbolic of the scientific arts, cartography, and astronomy, specific to the Jesuits. The verso of the right portion of the map has two pages of descriptive text including a fine engraving of a Chinese sailing vessel. Excellent (by sight). Handsome archival framing.

Price: $7,500. [ Order ]

Coronelli’s spectacular four-sheet map, originally bound into the Isolario portion of Atlante Veneto as two pages, represents what is generally known as the “core” of China. The map extends from the Great Wall in the north to the islands of Formosa (now Taiwan) and Hainan in the south, with what is now Tibet correctly characterized by large mountains. Several notes in Italian provide additional statistics about the Chinese and their culture, such as an inventory of settlements and a population count from missionary sources. Of the Great Wall, which is well depicted, Coronelli writes, “The line of the wall that divides China from Tartary is 400 leagues long, [was] built over the course of 2000 years, with base of living rock.” Provinces are shown, although the outer provinces are indicated but not mapped.

The interior of China is quite accurately set out in great detail, including the lake system to the west of Shanghai (Xanghei). The Chinese Sea and the coastline from Bo Hai (Gulf of Chihli) to the edge of the Gulf of Tongking are especially well charted. Corea (Korea) is correctly mapped as a peninsula, of which Coronelli says, “This peninsula of Corea, which others have thought an island, has been called Coreij, Tiocenkouk, and Caoli.” Japan appears at the extreme east of the map. The information for this piece was made available through the maps of Jesuit missionaries, especially Matteo Ricci and Martino Martini, who compiled the first atlas of China in 1655.