Wang Qi
Chinese Atlas
Sankai Tuhui, proofread by (his son) Wang Si Yi, corrected by Huang Sheng Dong ; Vols 1-12 ; Yun jian (near present day Shanghai), (1609); second reprint, circa 1660. (Mc Laughlin nr 460; Smith 4.8 pag 57; Harvey & Woodward, Vol II, book 2, page 176, Fig 7.5; Needham, Vol V.1: pp 180 & pp 264) - Blockbook consisting of 12 volumes (of 16) : 28x16 cm each ; traditional Chinese binding in a contemporary (un)folding case ; xylographically printed on circa 50 double leaves in each volume ; 94 maps (one worldmap; rest maps of China) ; 227 prints ; in 9 collumn, 22 letters in each column. Ownership inscription: (1) Rev. mr Hart Arundel; (2) Zouchee Parham, 26 dec 1872 from reverent Hart of Arundel. Volume 1: a.o worldmap after Ricci with China at the centre - Volume 4: map of Canton/ Guandong - Volume 6: province of Hebei & plan of Beijing - Volume 7: map showing Shanghai (named as such) - Volume 8: Taisjang mountain.
The geographical part of the Sankai Tuhui (106 volumes) consists of 16 volumes, of which 1-12 are available here. These same parts constituted the gift of Rev. Hart who apparently had owned the set before (first manuscript ownership: G.P.F Hart of Arundel, Scotland??) to an apparent Chinese convertee: Zouchee Parham. Christian missionary work was allowed again in China after the second opium war (1857) so the Rev. Hart and his wife must have come after that date to China and obtained this copy. Compilers are Wang Qi (from Shanghai at that time called Yun Jian) and his son Wang Si Yi. In this late Ming period books were frequently privately edited and printed within the family or by friends. These editions were usually carefully collated and high in quality (Needham). That is also the case with this book: the Sankai Tuhui. Needham states that "San Tskai Thu Hui (illustrations of the three powers), in 106 chuan (volumes), compiled by Wang Cchi of Sanghai, in collaboration with his son Wang Shi I, was printed by his friends in 1609.
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Various authors
Bogs of Ireland
Four parts in three volumes. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed. No place. 1810-1814. In folio, contemporary half calf (spines restored).
Part I (1810): 56 pages; 4 folded maps - Part II (1811): 206 pp; 16 folded maps - Part III (1814): 166 pp; 1 nn leaf; 27 folded maps - Part IV: (1814): 216 pp; 1 nn leaf 18 folded maps. Apparently complete though some maps are misbound. Some marginal water stains to text. A few maps dirty and with small, restored tears. Else fine copy.
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Colton, J.H.
Atlas of the World
New York. 1859 - Large folio (47x37 cm). Original gilted linnen ; lithographed frontis ; 110 maps in 108 map sheets ; printed in chromo lithography. Dampstaining cover and first few leaves. Else fine.
Colton was an important map and atlas maker, based in New York. His folding pocket maps and his atlases are famous as early American atlases. His atlas of the world was first printed in 1856 with a dated licence of 1855 (like in this atlas). After a geographical introduction there are 56 maps of Canada and the US, including 11 city plans. All US maps show family bound districts. Famous maps are maps (3) USA; map (13) Boston; map (18) New York; map 21 (Philadelphia; maps 23 and 24: Washington and Baltimore, the double page map after Cordoba of Texas (36); plan of Chicago (45), California (52) and Washington/Oregon (53). Other striking maps include Mexico (54); Cuba (57); Venezuela (59); China (28); Japan (29) Indonesia (31) and Australia (32)
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