- 211
World--Nagakubo, Sekisu.
Description
- Kaisei Chikyu Bankoku Zenzu [Revised Map of the World]. [Edo, c.1785], (1065 x 1500mm.), contemporary hand-coloured printed map on four joined sheets, folding into yellow paper covers, preserved in modern cloth box, one or two small stains, some repaired holes and tears along folds affecting a few characters
- paper
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
One of the most influential world maps of the Edo Period (1603-1857) by the Confucian scholar Sekisu Nagakubo (1717-1801), which was inspired by the world map published in China in 1602 by the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) for the Emperor of China Ming Shenzong.
This revised and detailed version of the oval projection continued to influence the Japanese image of the world until the mid-nineteenth century, when, with the reopening of Nagasaki in 1859 to foreign trade, Japanese interest in the outside world was once again encouraged. The map offers a fairly accurate portrayal of the continents, however, it still contains various inaccuracies, the most striking of which is the inclusion of the fictional continent of Magellanica over the South Pole.