It appears in Epitome, an atlas published in Antwerp by Ortelius (2). While the map of Japan in Orelius’ atlas of 1595 is impressively large with measurements of around 35cm x 49cm (height and width), this map published in 1598 is much smaller in comparison, measuring only 8cm x 10cm. The first Teixeira type map is this compact version housed in the Library ( click here for larger image). Here, I would like to introduce three variations of Teixeira type maps in the Cortazzi map collection at the Lisa Sainsbury Library. As such, the map was referenced in other successive maps and atlases, and maps that resembled his were referred to ‘Teixeira type maps’. For this reason, Teixeira’s map was considered to be the most accurate depiction of Japan when it was first published in 1595 (2). Studying existing portolan charts (navigational maps used by sailors) from the period, there are few, if any, charts with the coastal contours of Japan observed as precisely as those found in Teixeira’s map. Teixeira writes in his letter dated 20 February 1592 that he has sent a map of Japan and another of China to Ortelius (3). Teixeira’s map of Japan first appearance in the fifth edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. These included 21 editions in Latin, six in French, five in German, four in Spanish, two each in Italian and Dutch and one in English (1). The atlas continued to be published even after Ortelius’ death and was on the 41st edition by 1612. Popular indeed, it was republished a number of times over the years with new maps and information added to the revised editions. This publication is considered to be the first recognized modern atlas in Europe (2). He amassed a large collection of maps, which he pulled together to create a compilation of the most advanced examples and published as Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1570 (1).
Ortelius was a cartographer born in Antwerp.
It was a map sent from Luis Teixeira (dates unknown), a Portuguese cartographer, to Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598). I once introduced a map that has been described as ‘the earliest European rendition of Japan that depicts the state with a fair level of exactitude’ in the fourth issue of our e-magazine. Printed in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius.
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