Rare Old Map of Greater Tartary, the Great Mogul's Empire, Japan, and China by Visscher, 1690: East Asia, Central Asia, Beijing, Tokyo, Himalayas

Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of history with the 'Magnae Tartariae, Magni Mogolis Imperii, Japoniae et Chinae nova descriptio', an exquisite map crafted by Nicolaes Visscher II in 1690. Translated into English, the title of this map is 'New Description of Greater Tartary, the Great Mogul's Empire, Japan, and China'. The map offers a fascinating glimpse into the political and geographical landscape of these regions during the late 17th century, a time when the Dutch were making significant inroads into global trade and exploration.

The map is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship and artistic prowess of Nicolaes Visscher II, who hailed from a lineage of celebrated Dutch mapmakers. It covers Northeast Asia, highlighting political and administrative boundaries, cities, towns, waterways, canals, landmarks, lakes, and mountains. The intricate details of the map bring to life the vibrant cities of Beijing and Tokyo, as well as the majestic Himalayas.

The 'Magnae Tartariae, Magni Mogolis Imperii, Japoniae et Chinae nova descriptio' is not just a map, but a historical artifact that offers a window into the past. Hand-colored in outline, the engraved map includes a decorative cartouche and compass rose, adding to its aesthetic appeal. The relief shown pictorially provides a three-dimensional effect, further enhancing the map's visual impact.

This map is a valuable addition to any collection, be it for a history enthusiast, a lover of cartography, or a discerning collector of fine art. Its historical significance and artistic beauty make it a remarkable piece that stands out for its uniqueness. The 'Magnae Tartariae, Magni Mogolis Imperii, Japoniae et Chinae nova descriptio' is not just a map, but a conversation starter, a source of inspiration, and a treasure trove of historical insights.

Some of the significant locations shown on this map:

Greater Tartary:

1. Samarkand: Known as Maracanda in the 4th century BCE, it was the capital of the Sogdian satrapy under the Achaemenid Empire.
2. Tashkent: Founded by 5th century BCE, it's an ancient city located on the Great Silk Road between China and the Mediterranean.
3. Omsk: Founded in 1716, it's known for its rich history and architectural monuments.
4. Novosibirsk: Founded in 1893, it's the third-largest city in Russia.
5. Kazan: Founded in the medieval period, it's known for the Kazan Kremlin, a World Heritage Site.
6. Ulaanbaatar: Founded in 1639, it's the capital of Mongolia.

The Great Mogul's Empire:

1. Delhi: Founded as early as 6th century BCE, it was the capital of several empires in ancient India.
2. Agra: Founded in 1504, it's known for the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
3. Lahore: Known as Lavapuri in ancient times, it's one of the oldest cities in South Asia.
4. Multan: Known as the City of Sufis or City of Saints, it was an important center of Islamic philosophy.
5. Ahmedabad: Founded in 1411, it's known for its rich cultural past and architectural marvels.

Japan:

1. Tokyo: Known as Edo until 1868, it's the capital of Japan.
2. Kyoto: Founded in 794, it was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years.
3. Osaka: Known as Naniwa during the early classical period, it's one of Japan's oldest cities.
4. Nagoya: Founded during the Kamakura period, it's known for Nagoya Castle.
5. Hiroshima: Established in 1589, it's known for its historical significance during World War II.

China:

1. Beijing: Known as Peking, it's the capital of China.
2. Shanghai: Known as Hu for short, it's the global financial hub of China.
3. Guangzhou: Known as Canton, it's known for its avant-garde architecture.
4. Hangzhou: Known as Lin'an in ancient times, it's known for the West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. Chengdu: Known as Brocade City, it's the home of the giant panda.

Notable Natural Phenomena:

1. The Great Wall of China: One of the greatest wonders of the world, stretching over 21,196 km from east to west of China.
2. Mount Everest: The highest mountain in the world, located in the Himalayas.
3. Gobi Desert: The largest desert region in Asia, spanning two countries - China and Mongolia.
4. Yangtze River: The longest river in Asia, flowing for 6,300 kilometers.
5. Lake Baikal: The deepest and oldest freshwater lake in the world, located in Siberia.

Notable Historical Events (1600-1690):

1. The Fall of the Ming Dynasty (1644): The Ming Dynasty was replaced by the Qing Dynasty after the siege of Beijing.
2. Shimabara Rebellion (1637-1638): A revolt of Japanese Christians against the Tokugawa shogunate.
3. The Great Fire of Meireki (1657): A citywide fire in Edo (now Tokyo) that destroyed over half the city and claimed over 100,000 lives.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 24x30in (61x76cm), 32x40in (81.5x102cm), 40x50in (102x127cm), 48x60in (122x153cm) and 56x70in (142x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 90in (229cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40.5x51cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps of Europe and European cities to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.