Hand-colored map on ricepaper, folding into covers. overall 81x79.5 cm (31¾x31¼"), folding to 20x10.3 cm (8x4").
Lovely 18th century manuscript map of China, the coloring bright. The extensive text had been partially translated, in part: "'Flowing sand' flash floods in desert area saturates the sand with water making it muddy and it flows..." "Taiwan an island belonging to no one. Dutch came and occupied and built cities. End of Ming Dynasty Chinese came and built cities..." "Philippine Islands. Climate warm, inhabited by barbarians"; "Viet Nam. Dark people who dress like Chinese..." etc. NOTE: The possibility has been raised that this map is of Japanese and not Chinese origin. Provenance: Private collection of Margaret Gee.