A Jesuit missionary’s contribution to the mapping of Japan

A fine example of a very uncommon map, published in Cardim's 'Fasciculus e Japponicis floribus, suo adhuc madentibus sanguine', an illustrated history of the martyrdoms in Japan from 1597 to 1640. A 36-point key lists the Jesuit properties in Japan and a vignette ship illustrates the landing of St Francis Xavier, a co-founder of the Jesuits) on Japan, e15th August 1549. Cardim (1596-1659), a Portuguese Jesuit, travelled to Goa, Vietnam and China between 1618 to 1638. After a period back in Europe, during which time he wrote this book, he set sail for the East again in 1649. After a ship wreck off Mozambique he arrived in Goa in 1650. In 1653 he was captured by Dutch privateers who kept him prisoner for over two years. He died in Macao, aged 63, never having visited Japan.