17th century map of Tartary

BLAEU, Willem Janszoon.

Tartaria sive Magni Chami Imperium.
Amsterdam, 1665, Dutch text edition. Original colour with gold highlights. 385 x 500mm.

A very fine example of this map of northern Asia, from Archangel, the Caspian Sea and Astrakhan in the west to the Great Wall of China and the Bering Sea, although Kamchatka has yet to appear. Samarkand and Tashkent, the great cities of the Silk Road are marked but inaccurately placed, emphasising how little was known about the interior of Asia. Bottom right, just above the title cartouche featuring a camel caravan, is the northern tip of the 'island' of Korea.

KOEMAN: Bl 57.
Stock ID : 19612