Nicely executed map of Asia by the founder of the French School of Cartography, Nicolas Sanson. Most striking is the outsized coast of western North America, with the area closest to Asia identified as Marco Polo’s Royaume d’Anian.

The outline of Japan omits Hokkaido and shows the adjacent Korean peninsula as an island. The coastlines of China are quite inaccurate, but the round contour of the east coast is a distinct improvement over earlier depictions showing it as a straight line. The East Indies are shown in general outline, although New Guinea is indistinct.

There is increasing detail for interior regions, although depiction of many lakes and river courses still rely on incorrect sources. The Himalayas do not yet appear, and the Caspian Sea has not yet attained its correct shape.

This was the standard atlas map of Asia in mid 17th Century France. With its elegant engraving and increased accuracy, Sanson’s map of Asia foreshadows the great achievements of cartography in the next century.

Sweet, # 43.