[OGAWA JIHEI AND MAEKAWA SENPAN ILLUSTRATED BY]. 小川治平, 前川千帆画.

世界新漫画鳥瞰図. [Sekai shinmanga chōkanzu].
[New Bird's-Eye Cartoon Map of the World].

東京. [Tokyo]. 国際情報社. [Kokusai Jōhōsha]. Taisho 13 [ 1924]. Stock ID #207576

Delightful large folding pictorial colour map of the world, 78 cm x 109.6 cm, multiple folds, professionally mounted to linen backing. Light wear at folds, a few faint spots; very good condition.

This vibrantly illustrated map of the world was issued as a special New Year's Supplement, focusing on both historical and contemporary references. The intricate typeface of the heading evokes an ethnographic tone, setting the stage for a display of the wonders of the world.

Pictographs of people and industries from around the world are mixed with those of ships, sea and wildlife. Penguins gathered along the edge of the Antarctic gaze up at the world above them with great interest. Numerous white-faced clocks indicate time zones, showing the solar time difference from noon in Japan. Traveling east makes the time after noon; traveling west, before noon. There is also a disclaimer in the lower left corner regarding geographic accuracy owing to the focus on points of interest in countries around the world with the advice to "consult another map for precise information about locations."

The seas are filled with fish and ships contain explorers such as Magellan and Vasco da Gama, groups of Japanese migrants heading for South America, and even an American evading prohibition by swigging alcohol at sea. Continents are richly illustrated with images of local products, customs and indigenous peoples - though these also reflect some of the social prejudices of the day. There are snake charmers in India, camels crossing the Gobi and Sahara deserts, lumberjacks in Canada, big game hunters in southern Africa, and a rebel waving the flag of the "Freedom Army" in Ireland. Hong Kong is marked with the image of an opium smoker above the British flag; above, two seated figures, an elder scholar-official in the north of China and a worker in the south, are yoked by a cable. The caption references to endless fighting between the north and south in China. Below is the figure of Confucius [孔子] seated on a chair.

Australia is decorated with sheep, wheat, horses and emus being pursued by Aboriginal hunters. There are also textual explanations on the map. These tell us, amongst other things, that Sydney has the deepest and most beautiful harbour in the world and (incorrectly) that Tasmanian indigenous people have become extinct because of the law of the survival of the fittest.

The map was published on 1 January 1924, soon after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 which inflicted massive damage on the Tokyo and Yokohama areas, and includes text describing the earthquake, accompanied by an image of a giant catfish or Ōnamazu - the creature believed in Japanese mythology to be responsible for earthquakes. "On Taishō 12 (1923) September 1 at a.m. 11:58:44.6 the giant catfish went wild, causing the Great Kantō Earthquake and crushing the very fibre of the proud denizens of Edo." There is also an inset showing a more conventional map of the world.

When referring to this item please quote stockid 207576.

Price: $1,500.00 AU

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