Ortelius’s landmark map of China

A fine example of the most decorative map of China. Oriented with north to the right, there are cartouches for the title, scale and privilege; on the map are elephants, Tartar tents and land-yachts. Japan has an extra landmass to the east, with its further reaches hidden by the scale cartouche. The Philippines appear, but with little accuracy or detail; they were not even named until the second state (c.1588).