China veteribus Sinarum Regio - Hondius / Janssonius 1638

📜 Description
Original engraved map depicting China and parts of the Far East, published in Amsterdam in 1638 by Henricus Hondius and Jan Janssonius as part of the Newer Atlas, Oder Weltbeschreibung. The map represents the territory of Imperial China according to the European geographical vision of the 17th century, including Korea, Japan, portions of Indochina, and the archipelagos of Eastern Asia. The composition highlights mountain ranges, rivers, provinces, cities, and coastlines, following a structure consistent with Dutch Baroque cartography. The scene is enriched by a large decorative cartouche featuring an oriental allegorical figure, together with maritime ornamental elements characteristic of the great Amsterdam cartographic publishing houses. The Latin inscription “China veteribus Sinarum Regio” identifies the represented territory according to the ancient and humanistic geographical tradition, while the German text on the verso confirms the intended editorial market for Central and Northern Europe. The engraved line, precise and analytical, combines documentary function with decorative elegance, offering a significant testimony to the European representation of China during the 17th century. The period hand-coloring, clearly visible along borders and coastlines, enhances both the geographical readability and the ornamental impact of the composition.

📚 Historical-Artistic Note
Henricus Hondius and Jan Janssonius rank among the leading figures of 17th-century Dutch cartography, distinguished by the high editorial quality and wide international circulation of their atlases. The work belongs to the Newer Atlas, Oder Weltbeschreibung, an important cartographic publication conceived as a systematic description of the known world. Examples of this kind, intended for scholars, merchants, and collectors, testify to the central role of the Netherlands in the dissemination of geographical knowledge during the early modern period.

🧾 Technical Details
Title: China veteribus Sinarum Regio
Type: Antique map / original engraved map
Author / Cartographer / Manufacture: Henricus Hondius – Jan Janssonius
Designer / Engraver: not indicated
Publisher / Printer: Hondius / Janssonius
Place: Amsterdam
Period: 1638
Material: Paper
Technique: Etching
Coloring: Period hand-coloring
Edition / Print Run: from Newer Atlas, Oder Weltbeschreibung
Dimensions: sheet 49.5 × 58 cm; engraved area 41 × 50 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Sheet in excellent overall condition. No significant defects noted. Engraved surface well impressed and clearly legible. Period hand-coloring well preserved. German text on verso.