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Description

Rare English Carte-A-Figures Map

Rare English map of Asia, engraved by Robert Walton.

The map follows the cartography of early maps by Nicholas Visscher the Elder and Joan Blaeu, but has been completely re-engraved, with English nomenclature and annotations. 

The map includes views of Aden, Jerusalem, Goa, Macao, Rodus, GammaLamma, Bantam, Ormus, Calcutta and Arosbay, along with portraits of the kings of Tartary, China, Molucca, Turkey, Presia and Ceyon, and images of indigenous men and women in traditional costumes of China, Arabia, Java, and Tartary.

It seems Walton intended the maps to be sold to accompany a rare English treatise on Cosmography and Geography, but it is likely that few if any examples survive.  The advertisement at the top right notes:

you may desire a description of the severall countries either of this or any of the other parts may have one either pasted about it, or them or else you have the most usefull booke called a Cosmpographicall and Geographicall description of the whole world which is, but of smal price and it to be bought at the same place as this map is, where they are printed, coulered and sould as also pictures and the best copy bookes:

The Cosmpographicall and Geographicall description of the whole world referenced in the Walton map is almost certainly Thomas Porter's A compendious view or cosmographical and geographical of the whole world, which is recorded in a single example at the British Museum.  Only a single example of Porter's  A compendious view has appeared at auction (Sothebys 1965), which was apparently lacking the maps.

Rarity

The Walton map is rare. This is the second example we have offered for sale and the first without panels.

Condition Description
Restoration along the folds, with minor loss, expertly repaired on verso.