An important 18th century map of Japan

KAEMPFER, Engelbert.

Imperium Japonicum in Sexaginta et Octo Provincias Divisum.
London: Johann Caspar Scheuchzer, 1727. Coloured. 465 x 540mm.

A very fine example of this important map of Japan, published in Scheuchzer's translation of Kaempfer's 'History of Japan'. Japan is divided into 68 provinces, each named in Roman and Japanese characters. Two inset maps give the Russian and Japanese versions of northern Japan: the Russians have Japan almost touching Kamchatka; the Japanese show 'Jesogasima', the as yet unexplored Hokkaido.
After living in Japan between September 1690 and October 1692, employed as a physician by the Dutch East India Company, Kaempfer returned to his native Germany and wrote a description of the country. He died before he could find a publisher, but Sir Hans Sloane acquired his papers and instructed Scheuchzer, his librarian, to translate his account. Thus the first edition was published in London, with French and Dutch editions translated from the English.

HUBBARD: 77.
Stock ID : 19726