Japanese Maps : Nihon yochizu

Japanese Maps

<p style='text-align: justify;'> Map of Japan, in Japanese. It follows the model established by Nagakubo Sekisui, 1717-1801 (see Japanese 121 and Japanese 123 for reference). The colophon mentions Kikuchi Toramatsu from Edo as publisher, dates the map to Tenpō 14 (1843), and reports that it was first authorized for publication in Bunka 8 (1811) and reprinted in Tenpō 8 (1837). This actually refers to a map published in 1837 by the Osaka shop Matsumura Kyūbē (et al.), titled "Tenpō saisen kaisei Nihon zu", on which Kikuchi’s map was based. The title, absent on the map, is reported on the cover. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> The map is a wood block print, with printed colours and relief shown pictorially, a single sheet folded into original titled covers. It is oriented with north to the upper right, covers Matsumae to Tsushima, Okinoerabu, and Hachijojima, and shows longitude and latitude, but only reports numerical information about latitude (which goes from 42 degrees North to 30 degrees North). It includes information about distances of sea routes and the Kuroshio Current, and information about smaller islands. Cover Descrition: steel blue burnished paper, flexible cover board; in the front, title handwritten directly on front cover (black ink in Japanese) and black text on white label (Library's call no.: Japanese 121); at the back, mounted bookplate of Biblioteca Lindesiana (at the base of the bookplate in pencil is the notation: "17/F"). </p>