Original antique 17th-century map of Asia produced by the renowned Dutch mapmakers Willem and Joan Blaeu.
The hand colouring is thought to be from the period.
The Latin title translates to "Tartary or the Empire of the Great Khan". "Tartaria" was the historical European name for a vast region of Central and North Asia, and "Magni Chami Imperium" refers to the dominion of the Great Khan, referencing the Mongol Empire and the travel accounts of figures like Marco Polo.
The map was created by the Blaeu family publishing firm, primarily Willem Janszoon Blaeu and his son Joan Blaeu.
It was first published around 1638 and later included in their monumental atlases, such as the “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum”, and “Atlas Novus” (1635 onwards) and the “Atlas Major (1662-1672).
The map covers a huge area of Asia, from the Caspian Sea and the Volga River to the Pacific Ocean, including Mongolia, Tibet, and the Upper Ganges River region.
It illustrates the region as being very mountainous and features several large lakes.
The Great Wall of China is a prominent and detailed feature, shown separating China from Tartary.
The map's scale is decorated with figures in Asian dress, including a man leading a camel with a child riding it, and the geographical details were based partly on early travel accounts, leading to some mythical creatures and legends being referenced within the map.
Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was a prominent Dutch geographer and publisher. Born the son of a herring merchant, Blaeu chose not fish but mathematics and astronomy for his focus. He studied with the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, with whom he honed his instrument and globe making skills. Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam, where he sold instruments and globes, published maps, and edited the works of intellectuals like Descartes and Hugo Grotius.
