Tartary Map Frederick de Wit, XVII

Este mapa grabado en cobre, titulado 'Magnae Tartariae, Magni Mogolis, Imperii Iaponiae et Chinae Nova Descriptio', fue creado por Frederick de Wit en Ámsterdam alrededor de 1680. Representa el noreste de Asia, desde la isla de Formosa hasta el norte del Círculo Polar Ártico. La representación incluye la 'Gran Tartaria', el Imperio Mogol, China y Japón, reflejando el conocimiento europeo del siglo XVII. El mapa muestra la Gran Muralla y múltiples ciudades en China e India del norte. Elementos decorativos incluyen montañas y árboles finamente grabados. La topografía es especulativa, con costas y características geográficas no precisas. El estado de conservación es bueno, con un desgaste acorde a su antigüedad.

Frederick de Wit, one of the most prominent cartographers of the Dutch Golden Age, produced several influential maps of East and Southeast Asia during the 17th century. His most iconic work for this region is the Tabula Indiae Orientalis (c. 1662–1680), which reflects the height of Dutch maritime power and geographical knowledge.Key Features of the MapGeographical Scope: The map covers the vast region from the southeastern coast of Persia and India to Japan, the Philippines, and the northern coast of Australia (labeled as Hollandia Nova).Colonial Trade Routes: It highlights the strategic interests of the Dutch East India Company (VOC), showing major trading hubs like Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) and the island of Formosa (Taiwan).Decorative Cartouche: De Wit's maps are famous for their artistic flair. This one typically features a title cartouche adorned with figures of Asian merchants, turbaned warriors, and exotic animals.Cartographic Anomalies: Common for the time, it includes mythical elements like Lake Chiamay in central China, believed to be the source of five major Asian rivers. It also often depicts New Guinea as being joined to ...

image: 45 x 56 cm (o 18 x 22 polzades)

sheet: 52 x 62 cm