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Description

Map illustrating the route of Anthony Jenkinson and Richard Johnson from Moscovie (Astracan) to China in 1598

The map illustrates the travels of Anthony Jenkinson to Russia on behalf of the Russia or Muscovy Company in 1557. Jenkinson travelled to Moscow with instructions to seek passage through the Czar's domain in order to explore routes to Central Asia, Persia, and ultimately China.

Jenkinson was granted a license to travel and received letters from the Czar addressed to foreign kings asking for Jenkinson's safe-conduct,. Thereafter, Jenkinson, a Tartar interpreter, and two other company employees, Richard and Robert Johnson, departed Moscow in April 1558. In Astrakhan they joined a group of local merchants, sailed across the Caspian and traveled east overland with the ultimate goal of reaching China.

By December 1558 they had reached the famous Central Asian city of Bukhara, but were forced to turn back after learning that the routes beyond had been ravished by war.

The map shows the eastern terminus of the route at Sowchick and Camchick, noting that the parties were still 2 months journey from China.

Pierre Du Val Biography

Pierre Duval (1618-1683) was a French geographer, cartographer, and publisher who worked in Abbeville and Paris during the seventeenth century. He was born in the former city, in northeast France, before moving to Paris. Duval was the nephew of the famous cartographer Nicolas Sanson, from whom he learned the mapmaker's art and skills. Both men worked at the royal court, having followed the royal request for artists to relocate to Paris. In addition to numerous maps and atlases, Du Val's opus also includes geography texts. He held the title of geographe ordinaire du roi from 1650 and died in 1683, when his wife and daughters took over his business.