Asia and Southeast Asia | Fine Antique Prints

(Asia) Thomas Cowperthwait. Universal Atlas. Philadelphia 1850

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:28:00 +0000

“Asia”

A detailed map by Thomas Cowperthwait who bought and assumed the cartography and publishing business of S. Augustus Mitchell in Philadelphia. Cowperthwait re-issued Mitchell’s atlas, A New Universal Atlas containing maps of the various Kingdoms, States and Republics of the World in 1850. This map was a plate in that work. Cowperthwait’s company produced some of the best American commercial cartography in the 19th century and was responsible for producing accurate and updated maps, accessible and affordable for most. With a very nice early inset of Australia.

Lithograph with original color.
14 x 17 inches sheet size.
Very good condition, minor toning, full margins.

(China) Thomas Cowperthwait. Universal Atlas. Philadelphia 1850

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:28:00 +0000

“Asia”
A detailed map by Thomas Cowperthwait who bought and assumed the cartography and publishing business of S. Augustus Mitchell in Philadelphia. Cowperthwait re-issued Mitchell’s atlas, A New Universal Atlas containing maps of the various Kingdoms, States and Republics of the World in 1850. This map was a plate in that work. Cowperthwait’s company produced some of the best American commercial cartography in the 19th century and was responsible for producing accurate and updated maps, accessible and affordable for most.

Lithograph with original color.
14 x 17 inches sheet size.
Very good condition, minor toning, full margins.

(Plan of Tokyo) Tokyo, 1871. Wood block

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:27:59 +0000

(19th century wood block map of Tokyo)
A fabulously decorative large scale plan of Tokyo with the imperial palace placed in the middle. The palace name is written in upside down characters in deference to the royal family.

The map shows the way to 18 revered pine trees located around Tokyo that can be visited in one day. It shows the name and address of the trees. Traditionally, conifers are very prized in Japan. It is interesting that there are also arboretums in the United States that have collections of Japanese pines. For instance, Haverford College, in Haverford, Pennsylvania has a Pinetum; a collection of 15 different varieties of pine trees including Japanese white pine (often used in bonsai), Japanese larch and Japanese umbrella trees.
The map’s text reveals that the information it contained was so valuable that it was originally issued in 1864, reprinted in 1870 and updates were again made for this 1871 issue, published during the third year of the Meiji restoration. The original publisher, and owner of the wood block, was NISHIMURA-YA Yohachihara with the subsequent publishers KIKU-YA Bunsaburoo and YOSHIDA-YA.The words within the parcels of land indicate ownership. There are still some samurai family clan names on the map so an update may have been needed. The Meiji government was forfeiting samurai claims and some families moved away.

Please note that the map is oriented with North to the left.
Hand colored woodcut.
36 x 31 ½ inches, sheet.
With original cover.
Attractively framed to museum specifications with map archivally “floated” against fabric covered back mat and placed in a black cap molding with a red undercoat. Excellent condition.

(Japan) Robert de Vaugondy.Atlas Universel. Paris, 1757

admin — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 21:27:59 +0000

“L’Empire du Japon”
Robert de Vaugondy (1688-1766) also known as Le Sieur or Monsieur Robert to distinguish his work from that of his son Didier Robert de Vaugondy, was the preeminent French mapmaker in the 18th century. Thisantique map of Japan was included in his
Atlas Universel
, published in Paris in 1757, and one of the most important atlases of its time. Their maps represented a great step forward in terms of the detail shown and accuracy of the depiction. They combined information gleaned from earlier sources with that of recently completed surveys and verified and corrected latitude and longitude measurements and added many new places names. In recognition of this atlas’s tremendous contribution to cartography, Robert de Vaugondy was appointed geographer to King Louis XV in 1760.
This mid eighteenth century map of Japan show it deivided into 7 principal parts and 60 kingdoms.
De Vaugony maps are noted for the beauty of the ornamental engraving surrounding their title areas. In this case, beautiful flower arrangements, parasols and two views of Japanese landscapes with pagodas.
20 5/8 x 26 ½ inches, sheet.
Engraving hand colored outlining.
Very good condition save discoloration along centerfold.