Jean-Baptiste Du Halde Map of China: Kanton, Shang Chwen Shan and Ma-kau. [Description Geographique].

J. Wood, c. 1736. Rare eighteenth century hand-colored map providing plans of Kanton, Shang Chwen Shan and Ma-kau, being a plate extracted from Du Halde's celebrated Description Geographique, the most important cartographic record of the region of the eighteenth century. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 14 inches by 11.5 inches. Based on surveys conducted by French Jesuits at the behest of the Emperor Kang Hsiand, Jean-Baptiste Du Halde's Description Geographique constitutes the first scientific mapping of China and remains the most important cartographic record of the region from the eighteenth century. Du Halde did not travel to China, but collected seventeen Jesuit missionaries' reports and provided an encyclopedic survey of the history, culture and society of China and "Chinese Tartary," that is, Manchuria. Voltaire said of Du Halde's work: "Although it is developed out of Paris, and he hath not known the Chinese, [he] gave on the basis of the memoirs of his colleagues, the widest and the best description the empire of China has had worldwide."