1687 Sanson Rossi Map of Asia

by Paul Fearn

Title

1687 Sanson Rossi Map of Asia

Artist

Paul Fearn

Medium

Photograph

Description

: A spectacular 1687 map of Asia by the important Italian cartographer Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi. Depicts the entire continent as well as parts of Europe, Africa, and the East Indies. In drawing this map Rossi drew heavily upon Nicholas Sanson’s map of Asia in ancient times. In East Asia the cartography is still fairly speculative. Hokkaido is shown attached to the mainland in a vast peninsula named Yvpi . Separated from this landmass by the narrow Strait of St. Vries is a mysterious landmass called Ieco , a name which itself is commonly associated with Hokkaido. West of Japan, Korea appears as a narrow peninsula after the Mercator-Honduis example. Further inland, in western China, Chiamay Lake is depicted. This mythical body of water was postulated by Ortelius as source for the great rivers of Southeast Asia. In a marked departure from Sanson’s map, Rossi corrects the orientation of the Caspian Sea to the proper north-south axis. In the East Indies he separates New Guinea into separate islands, “Terra de Papous” and “N. Guinea”. In the far north the Mongol empire is labeled Magog, referencing Marco Polo’s association of Mongolia with the Biblical land of “Magog.” An attractive decorative title cartouche referencing the military prowess of the Saracens and the Mongols adorns the upper left quadrant. Prepared in 1687 by Rossi for issue in Giacomo Cantelli da Vignola’s important Mercurio Geografico

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July 12th, 2013

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