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Glossary of Map Terms

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JAPAN

J-C101 - U. S. NAVY HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE "Chart #07233 "Japan Naikai (Inland Sea.) Bisan Seto to Hiuchi Nada." From Japanese Surveys to 1948. 27½X41½. Printed color. Published Wash. D. C. 1949. 2nd Edition 1952. (Corrected to 1972.) Large chart shows Shikoku & Honshu, Shada Shima and many very detailed soundings in sea areas. Includes courses, beacons, buoys etc.

PACIFIC OCEAN - JAPAN/CHINA

J-C102 - LA PEROUSE "Carte Des Decouvertes Faites en 1787 dans les Mers De Chine  et de Tartarie par les Fregates Francaises La Boussole et 1'Astrolabe" Paris 1797. Sheet 1. 19½X27. B/W. Fine large chart shows the southern coast of China, Japan, Korea, Formosa & the Philippines and the Marianas and many small islands in the region. Locates the tracks of the Boussoles the Astrolabe, the ships of La Perouse, on his voyage from Manila to Kamtschatka. Chart shows very detailed soundings and all known harbors, straits and island chains.

KAMTSCHATKA/JAPAN/MACAO

J-C104 - R. BONNE "Plan De La Baye D'Awatska sur la cote Orientale Du Kamtschatka..." 1779. "Partie Du Japon au Nipon" and "Plan du Typa ou de Macao" Paris. c.1787. B/W. 13½X9¼. 3 finely engraved harbor charts on one sheet from the French Edition of Cook's 3rd voyage, show the bay of D'Awatska on the Kamtschatka coast, part of the islands of Japan and the harbor of Macao with block plan of the town visited by Cook's ship under the command of Gore and King, following Cook's death in Hawaii in 1779. Each chart shows shoreline topography, soundings, shoals, channels and includes some navigational notes. 

J-C109 - J. N. BELLIN "L'Empire De La Chine Pour Servir a L'Histoire Generale des Voyages." Paris 1748. Colored. 11¼X15½. Very decorative title cartouche with leaves, scrolls and wind putti in lower right make this an attractive map. Taiwan or Formosa is located off shore & the Royaume De Corée (Korea) is depicted in top right with the Mer De Corée (Sea of Japan) off it's eastern shore. The Gulf of Tonkin and the island of Haynan are located off the southeastern coast. Peking is located in Pechelli Province; and the map includes two sets of notes regarding the content of the map, both surrounded by colorful leaf and flower cartouches. This very attractive map of China shows many cities, towns, villages and harbors, all engraved in fine detail. (Included in De La Harpe's Voyages of 1780.) 

J-C111 - R. BONNE "Carte De La Tartarie Chinoise" Paris 1771. Colored. 11½X16¼. Finely engraved and decorative title cartouche with scroll, leaves & flowers, teapot and cup adorn this attractive map. Locates Korea, northeastern China and Chinese Tartary and the northernmost island of Japan - Hokkaido named Jeso-Gasimo. Many cities, towns and harbors appear in fine detail. An attractive 18th. century map. 

J-C112 - DR. J. PLAYFAIR "China and Japan Drawn & Engraved for Dr. Playfair's Atlas." Edin. 1821. Colored. 18X22. Finely engraved & detailed map shows provinces, cities, towns & harbors in China. Locates the Gulf of Tonking, Formosa, Corea, the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. Shows the islands of Japan, Ximo or Kiusu (Kyushu), Jamaisott & Jetsegen & Quanto and Oehio (Honshu). Includes the northern tip of Luzon; & title is in fine calligraphy. An excellent early map with very good detail. 

JAPAN

J-C113 - RAND McNALLY “Japan” Chgo 1904. Colored. 19½X26. Large colorful map of Japan with much detail includes 5 inset charts: 1.) Island of Formosa 2.) South extension of Osumi Province 3.) Ryuku Islands (Loo-Choo) 4.) Ezo and Chishima. 5.) Outline map of Japan. Scale - statute miles 41-1 inch. 

J-C116 - PREVOST D'EXILES "Carte Des Isles Kouriles d'après la Carte Russe. Dressée et Gravée par Laurent." Paris. 1754. Colored. 9¼X10¼. Attractive chart of the Kuriles, a chain of volcanic islands belonging to Russia & extending from Kamchatka (Russia) to Hokkaido (Japan) in the northern Pacific. Chart shows many harbors and small offshore islands. Depicts the Russian coastline bordering the Sea of Okhotsk, locating Cap Patience and depicting many rivers and forested regions on the mainland. Title in lower left is surrounded with decorative motifs of trees and foliage, spears, swords and a pennant. A fine chart engraved by J. Laurent for Prévost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages."

J-C117 - R. BENARD "Plan Du Typa ou de Macao. Lat 22° 9' N. Long.N 3°48' E. Decl.o.O.1780." Paris 1784. B/W. 10X8¼. Chart shows block plan of the town and harbor of Macao. Depicts the Typa or channel leading to Macao through small islands, one of which shows settlements & Point du Rocher. Depth soundings appear in the main channel; with shoals and low water areas. Includes navigational notes coded A-E as depicted on the chart which comes from Capt. James Cook's third voyage to the Pacific, engraved by R. Benard and published in Paris from original surveys. (Note: Cook died in Hawaii on his third voyage, on 14th February 1779. After his death his crew brought his ships back to England via the coast of China, taking surveys along the route.) 

J-C119 - J. N. BELLIN "Carte De L'Empire Du Japon." Paris 1752. Colored. 8½X12. This very attractive chart by Jacques Nicolas Bellin, shows the present day island of Kyushu named Isle de Ximo; the island of Shukoku named I. De Xixoco and the major island of Honshu named Isle de Nipon. The island contours are still speculative but harbors & towns, bays & offshore islands are noted, though their outlines and positions are still speculative and show the lack of accurate surveys brought back to Paris by navigators in the middle 18th century. Title cartouche in top left is decorated in the rococo style with leaves, flowers and scroll motifs. From De La Harpe's Voyages published in 1780. A fine chart.

HONG KONG

In 1841 Great Britain occupied Hong Kong & in 1842 it became a British Crown Colony. It is located at the mouth of the Canton River & includes the Peninsula & Island of Kowloon, on the coast of China. The following maps are the first to show and name Hong Kong in the location where all earlier maps only named Canton & Macao.

J-C132 - J & C. WALKER "China" London. 1843. Colored. 15½X12¼. Shows Hong Kong. 

J-C135 - A. PETERMANN “China (Ostl. Thiel) Korea und Japan” Gotha. Germany. for Justus Perthes. 1879. Colored outlines. Includes large finely detailed inset of the Canton region & Canton River showing Hong Kong at the entrance with Lantao Island as its western neighbor and Macao across the River.

J-C136 - A. H. DUFOUR “Chine Proprement Dite Partie Sud-Est De L'Empire Chinois.” Paris. c.1860. Colored. Shows Hong Kong.

J-C137 - CAPT. JOHN MEARES “Pic de Lantao Près de l'entrée du Bocca Tigris”. Paris c. 1794. B/W. 7½X9¼. Fine engraved view from the French Edition of Meare's "Voyages," shows the island of Lantao situated at the mouth of the Canton River, to the west of Hong Kong & opposite Macao. The view was drawn on the spot by one of Meares' crew, T. S. Parry. The island is now the site of the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chep Lap Kok on the island's northern coast & it is connected to Hong Kong by the longest bridge in the world. This peaceful view, with the islands twin peaks & sailing vessels below, is one of the earliest views of Lantao, which is now a busy, commercial center. 

J-C138 - G. von F. v STULPNAGEL “Ost-Indien”. Gotha. Germany. 1878, Colored. 12X16. Shows Hong Kong.

J-C140 - J. MEARES “Vue de l'entrée du Bocca Tigris, conduisant a Canton”. Paris. 1790 (1794) B/W. 8X9½. Finely engraved view of a Chinese ship of war at the entrance to Bocca Tigris, the channel leading from the Canton River to Canton in China, near Taiping. View shows forts, some Chinese sampans & fishing boats and a large European sailing vessel, probably John Meares' ship the Nootka, passing through the headlands at the entrance. From John Meares' “Voyage de Calcutta a la Cote Nord-Ouest D'Amerique pendant les Années 1786-1787”. Published in the French edition of Meare's Voyages. 

J-C141 - J. MEARES “Vue de l'Isle Tiger, située sur le Bocca Tigris et nommées Tailoc Tow par les Chinois”. Paris. 1790 (1794.) B/W. 7½X9½. Fine engraved view of Tiger Island situated at the entrance to Bocca Tigris, the channel leading from the Canton River to the port of Canton on China's southeast coast. The view depicts a Chinese ‘chaloupe’ vessel carrying merchandise from Canton to a European ship seen by John Meares on his voyage to China from America's Northwest coast in 1786.. From John Meares' “Voyage de Calcutta a la Cote Nord-ouest D'Amerique pendant les Années 1786-1787”. Published in the French edition of John Meares' Voyages.

J-C153 - R. BONNE “L'Empire de la Chine d'aprés Chinois Avec les Isles de Japon. Par M. Bonne Hydrographe du Bureau de la Marine.” Paris. 1771. Colored. 12X17½. Finely engraved & detailed map of China by Rigobert Bonne, the Royal Hydrographer to the King in Paris, shows coastal harbors from Tonkin and Macao to the Korean peninsula and includes the offshore islands of Haynan, Formosa and Legueo, and the southern islands of Japan called Xixo, Sicoco & Nippon. Very decorative title cartouche in lower right shows a Chinese gentleman reclining against a tree under a parasol & holding a bird in his right hand. Leaves & flowers complete this charming picture. From Atlas Moderne. Published in Paris by Lattre and De La Lain.

J-C155 - R. BONNE “Carte De l'Empire De La Chine De La Tartarie Chinoise, Et Du Royaume De Coree avec les Isles du Japon.” Paris.1780. Colored. 12½X8¼. This fine late 18th century map of China and Japan was drawn just prior to the more detailed surveys available to cartographers in the middle to late 19th century. Map locates the islands of Hainan and Formosa & the coast from Macao north to the cities of Nankin and Pekin, the Sea of Japan & the Corean Peninsula. Includes the Japanese islands of Xixo (Kyshu) and Niphon. The Philippine islands and the Island of Luzon are drawn at the base of the map, which also takes in Chinese Tartary and many towns & settlements inland. A fine map by a noted French cartographer, Rigobert Bonne. From “Atlas De Toutes Les Parties Connues ou Globe Terrestre.” Paris. 1780.

The following charts are all from Sir George L. Staunton's “An Account of an Embassy From the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China. Taken Chiefly from the Papers of His Excellency the Earl of Macartney.. Sir Erasmus Gower... and other Gentlemen in the Several Departments of the Embassy.” Published in London in 1796 by George Nicol and engraved by Benjamin Baker and W. Skelton. Information for the charts and the Atlas that accompanied the Account, was supplied by Sir John Barrow (1764-1848), who served as Secretary/Comptroller to Lord Macartney when Macartney was Ambassador to China in 1793. Barrow traveled widely throughout China, learned the language and became an authority on Chinese affairs. On his return to England after Macartney's term was over, he became a noted statesman, friend of the King, and Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty for the next 40 years.

J-C156 - G. L. STAUNTON/J. BARROW “A Chart of the Islands to the South Ward of T'Chu-San on the Eastern Coast of China generally laid down from one Published by Alexander Dalrymple Esq. with additions. & alterations by J. Barrow.” London 1796.B/W. 21X13½. Intensely detailed chart shows “Part of the Island of Tchu-San” with a block plan of the City of Ting Hai, and includes dozens of small islands with detailed notes on passages & depth soundings between them. Depicts rocks and other dangers & suggested anchorages & includes two inset charts 1. Titled - “Thus appeared the harbour of Tchu-San from the anchorage of the “Clarence””. 2. Sketch by Compass showing the island of Tchu-San and its harbour locating the South Gate of the City, the Burying Ground, Temple of Fu and Stone Piers. The ship “Clarence” was part of the Squadron that took Lord Macartney and John Barrow to China in order to establish the British Embassy in Pekin in 1793. A fine chart. 

J-C157 - G. L. STAUNTON/J. BARROW “Sketch of the Pay-Ho or White River and of the Road from Pekin to Geho taken 1793.” London 1796. B/W. 17½X13. Fine chart shows the course of the Pay-Ho River flowing from Pekin to the Gulf of Petcheli with flat cultivated lands on both sides of the river and many villages & willow trees lining its banks. It also shows the Road from Pekin to Geho shaded by willow trees & bordered by cultivated fields. The City of Pekin is drawn as a fortified block plan with the roads and river leading to it. Includes a compass rose with fleur-de-lys pointer. A rare chart showing Pekin in the center drawn from information supplied by John Barrow.

J-C161 - RAND MCNALLY “Japan” Chicago. 1912. Colored. 19X26. Handsome map shows Japan's Islands in fine detail, with harbors noted around the coasts and many cities, towns & villages depicted inland. Includes 4 inset charts 1.) Ryukyu Islands (Loo Choo) depicting Okinawa island and adjacent small island groups, 2.) South Extension of Osumi Province, showing Tane-Ga & Yaku Islands, 3.) Island of Formosa and 4.) Outline map of Japan. Also shows the Kurile Islands, stretching northward beyond Japan's island of Hokkaido, in the Sea of Okhotsk, which were known in earlier days as Ezo and Chishima, and now belong to Russia. This very detailed map was published in Rand McNally's “Library Atlas of the World.”

J-C166 - M. C. PERRY “Keelung Harbor. Formosa Island. Surveyed by order of Commander M. C. Perry. U.S.N. by Lieut. G. H. Preble & Pd. Md. Walter F. Jones in the U.S. Ship Macedonian. Capt. J. Abbot 1854.” Wash. D.C. 1855. B/W. 24X34. Excellent chart shows the harbor of Keelung on Formosa Island with Junk Harbor and Keelung Town which shows roads and buildings. Depicts Coal Harbor and Quar See Kow Bay. In the center of the chart are finely engraved views of the landscape and rocks on Keelung Island. Includes detailed sailing directions for entering the Harbor from seaward. In 1853 and 1854 Matthrew Calbraith Perry (1794-1858), a Commodore in the U.S. Navy was ordered by the U.S. Government to sail to Japan to request negotiations for the opening of Japanese ports for world trade. In 1854 a Treaty was signed with the Emperor and Simoda Harbor was opened to world trade. During his voyages to the Far East, Perry visited the islands around Japan and the coast of China, and upon his return to the United States he spent the last four years of his life preparing and publishing charts for the aid of navigators, trading in Japanese and Chinese waters.

J-C167 - M. C. PERRY “The Harbor of Hakodadi. Yesso Id. Japan. Surveyed by Lieuts. M. F. Maury, G. H. Preble, S. Nicholas & A. Barbot in 1854.” Wash. D.C. 1855. B/W.23½X17½. Finely detailed chart shows Hakodadi Island with a temple, cemetery, gun battery, sulphur spring and Cavern Point. Many detailed depth soundings appear in the harbor and the chart has two excellent finely drawn landfall approach views to aid navigators entering the harbor from seaward. Includes saling directions and navigational notes.

J-C168 - M. C. PERRY “Shah Bay. Lew Chew Island. Surveyed by Order of Commodore M. C. Perry U.S.N. by Lieuts. W. B. Whiting and Alph. Barbot of the U.S. Ship Vandalia. J. Pope Commdr. 1853.” Wash. D.C. 1854. B/W. 11½X16. Chart shows the entrance to the Bay at Craford Island depicting salt pans and tombs on the shore. Many depth soundings appear in the Bay and some buildings are drawn on Ofookah Pt. with a cultivated area, near the beach. Shah Bay is on Lew Chew Island, now called Okinawa.

J-C174 - U. S. HYDROGRAPHICAL OFFICE “Asia. China. Kwantung Peninsula. Dairen Wan. (Bay.) From Japanese Surveys to 1929 with additions to 1937.” Wash. D.C. 1908 (corrections to 1942. Blue/yellow/white coloration. 26½X38. Fine colorful chart of Dairen and Dairen Bay now called Talien, across the Bay from Tientsin, China. Located on China's northeast coast at Lat.38° 59' 40N, & Long. 121°39'40E, the chart shows a street block plan of Dairen and it's harbor, a former Treaty Port built by the Russians. The chart includes both topographical and hydrographical details, many small islands and hundreds of depth soundings throughout the sea areas. Used aboard the U. S. Escort Carrier “Mission Bay” in WWII, this is an excellent sea-chart in good condition.

J-C175 - BRITISH ADMIRALTY “China East Coast. Chou-Shan Chun Tao. Ting Hai Chiang and Approaches. Surveyed by Commander W. Pudsey Dawson R.N. in H.M. Surveying Ship ‘Waterwitch’ May-June 1898.” London. 1901 (corrected to 1958.) B/W. 20X26. Chart is dotted with depth soundings and includes both topographical and hydrographical details and courses, and depicts 2 excellent compass roses for aid in navigation through the islands and along the shorelines. A fine chart in good condition.

J-C176 - J. MIGEON “Chine Et Coree.” Paris. 1874. Colored. 12½X16½. Very detailed map of China and Corea includes the island of Formosa, Japan and the Kuriles Islands. The map shows hundreds of cities, towns and harbors, rivers and mountains throughout and depicts Canton and Hong Kong on China's southern coast. Includes 2 finely engraved vignettes of Peking and Tokyo, both in landscape settings and shows all offshore islands in the Ocean off Japan's eastern and southern coast. A fine map published in “Geographique Universelle: Atlas Migeon,” the map was drawn under the direction of J. Migeon and Charles Lacoste in Paris in 1874.

J-C179 - CAPT. J. COOK “View of the Coast of Japan.” London. 1784. Colored. 11X8½. This fine chart depicts, at the top, a horizontal landfall approach view of the coast of Japan as seen by the crews of Capt. James Cook's ships, the Resolution and the Discovery, on their return voyage to England after Cook's death in Hawaii in 1779. The View is titled “View of the Coast of Japan when we first saw it. The Hill. A Bearing West 3 miles distant.” The chart that accompanies the View shows an outline of the coast with the ship's tracks from Cape Norabu down to Sanddown Pt and White Point and includes a compass rose with radiating rhumb lines. Published by Alexander Hogg in “A New Authentic & Complete Collection of Voyages Round the World” and engraved by Thomas Bowen (1732-1790) a master engraver in 18th century London.

J-C180 - J. COOK “Sketch of the Typa and Macao” London. 1784. Colored. 10X8½. After Capt. James Cook was killed in Hawaii in 1779 during his 3rd voyage to the Pacific, the crew of his ships the Resolution and Discovery brought the vessels back to England via the southeast coast of China and stopped at Macao at the mouth of the Canton River across from what is now Hong Kong. This sketch of Macao shows a block plan of the town and depth soundings in the channel leading into the harbor from offshore islands and the Typa Channel. A note on the chart says “The harbor of Macao is drawn by Eye and the Soundings taken at Low Water.” This fine chart was drawn from sketches by members of Cook's crew and published in “Atlas to a Voyage to the Pacific” by George Nicol in 1784. It is from The Crown Authorities Issue. A scarce chart in very nice condition.

J-C183 - C. S. HAMMOND “Korea.” NY. c. 1925. Colored. 12¼X9. This is a fine map with excellent detail of the Korean Peninsula depicting hundreds of place names in both North and South Korea. Includes the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan. On the back (verso) is another fine map of Japan, Korea and the Ryukyu Islands. The map is well-drawn and presented in a pink color with blue sea areas.

J-C184 - J. N. BELLIN “Karte Von Der Einfahrt Des Flusses Canton.” Leipzig. c. 1754, B/W. 10X8. This striking map shows the Island of Macao at the entrance to the Canton River on the east coast of China. Depicts soundings & anchorages in the river which flows inland up to the port city of Canton where a number of Forts are drawn around the area. The Island of Lintem with an anchorage is depicted at the river's entrance where a large compass rose with radiating rhumb lines is placed as an aid to mariners approaching the coast from offshore. The map was drawn under the direction of Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703-1772) the Royal Hydrographer to the King in Paris and Director of the Depot de la Marine, and published in the scarce German edition of the “Allegemeine Historie der Reisen. Zu Wasser und Lande.”

J-C185 - J. MEARES “Vue de la Ville de Macao.” Paris. 1794. B/W. 10X19. Captain John Meares (1746-1801) was a former Royal Navy officer who sailed to America's Pacific Northwest coast in 1786, to enter the fur trade. However, upon arrival at “Nootka” on Vancouver Island, he was warned off by two other British traders, Capts. Dixon & Portlock, as Meares was trading without a South Seas or East India Company permit required by marine law for English ships trading in American & Asian waters. Undeterred, Meares collected some furs which he traded in Macao, China after wintering in Hawaii. In 1788 he set forth again from Macao in two ships the “Iphigenia” & the “Felice” both without licenses & flying the Portuguese flag bound for America's Pacific Northwest coast to try his luck again. On leaving Macao one of his crew sketched this fine View of Macao's harbor from offshore showing large buildings, & many warehouses along the waterfront with two coastal vessels entering the harbor. This very attractive copper engraved View was issued in “John Meare's Voyages Made in the Years 1788 & 1789 from China to the Northwest Coast of America with an Introductory Narrative of a Voyage Performed in 1786 from Bengal in the ship “Nootka””,  London 1790. French edition published in 1794. .

J-C186 - G. ANSON “Chinese Vessels.” London. 1749. B/W. 8X13. This finely drawn copperplate engraving of 3 Chinese Junks shows them in different positions under sail. Junks are flat bottomed, high sterned vessels with square bows & with 2 or 3 masts carrying lugsails often made of matting stiffened with horizontal battens. The name comes from the Portuguese 'junco' adapted from the Javanese 'djong' meaning ship. The drawings of the Junks were sketched by members of the crew of the “Centurion” Commodore George Anson's ship during his Round-the-World Voyage, in search of the Spanish Treasure Galleons in the area of the Philippines between 1742 & 1743. The engraving was published in the Atlas to Accompany Richard Walter's book titled “A Voyage Round the World by George Anson esq. now Lord Anson. Between 1740-1744.” Published in 1749. (Reference: The Oxford Companion to Ships & the Sea. Edited by Peter Kemp.)

J-C187 - CROW “Plan of Hong Kong. City of Victoria. Drawn for Crow's Handbook of China.” London. c.1921. Partial color. 6X11¼. Well drawn street plan of the City and Harbor shows Public Gardens, Government House, Parade Ground, Queens Road, Post Office, Wellington & Stanley Streets, the Navy Yard, Court House, College, Queen's Statue Wharf, Star Ferry Pier, Blake & Douglas Piers. The map is a fine memento of Hong Kong when it was a British island and Crown Colony & depicts Chater Road, the Western Market & the Hong Kong Club.

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