Kokugun Zenzu [Japan] [Complete Atlas of the Provinces and Districts of Japan] / 国郡全図

Osaka and Edo: Kawachiya Kihe et al. and Eirakuya Toshiro, 1837. Second Edition. Trade paperback. Good. This is the second edition of one of the crowning achievements of Japanese Edo-period mapmaking, a five-color woodblock atlas of the provinces of Japan. The maps are printed in light blue, dark blue, black, yellow, and red and mark administrative divisions (villages, provinces, counties), roads, stations, historical places, shrines, and temples.

This atlas was adapted by Tokei Ichikawa from the large and accurate map of Japan made by Sekisui Nagakubo in 1773. This format, first published in 1828, was intended for desktop use according to the introduction. Most of the provinces are depicted on two facing sheets, with one province per map. The scale varies, with each map resized to fit it in the allotted space.

For more information, see the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan catalog record: "It is considered the masterpiece of atlases of Japan's political divisions." [日本総図を分割した地図帳のうち、最高傑作とされる.]

Printed on double leaves. Volume I: [29], 41 double-page maps; vol. II: [5], 34 double-page maps, [blank], [3] pages. 7-1/2 by 11-1/4 inches (roughly 18 by 29 cm). Paper covers darkened with minor loss to the paper cover labels; light worming inside, some folds beginning to split; generally very good.