AN ANTIQUE MAP, "Exactissima Asiæ," CAREL ALLARD, AMSTERDAM, CIRCA 1705, hand colored engraving on paper, Carel Allard (Dutch 1648 - 1709), cartographer, Philip Tideman (Dutch 1657-1705), printer, William van der Gouwen (Dutch circa 1640-1720), engraver, with acknowledgment to cartographer Nicolai Witsen (Dutch 1641-1717) for his contribution of information lower center, an inset map upper right titled "Tartariæ Pars," placed above a lower floating rendering of Yedso, Staten Landt and Straet de Vries, warm water access is a focus labeling the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, a part of the Mediterranean Sea, Mare Album, Mare Tartaricum, and lower left a figural cartouche of an unusually modestly ocher robed female personification of the Far East, she wears a conical turban with feather plume, she holds a crescent moon scepter and at her feet a stacking food box holding tasty treats, a thurible incense container, a musical drum, a lacquer plaque, pedestal, an octagonal planter with jeweled hair pins, celadon tea cups and saucers, a zisha tea caddy, the lid held by a curious monkey, a blue and white baluster vase and bottle neck vase with tulips, a lady merchant kneels holding a blanc de chine figurine, a Turkish merchant excitedly opens a gilt mounted Japanese chest filled displaying gilt braids, silks and textiles, enormous south sea pearls, and a tortoise at his feet, behind him an Ottoman blue and red turbaned man holds a triple blade partisan spontoon pole arm, an African merchant holds a gilt bronze jewel casket and bird, a Safavid style camel handler ends the caravan, ropes and crates encourage trade, overlaid with curving latitudinal and longitudinal lines, with one compass rose, margin hand inscribed in ink number 115. Sheet: 21 1/4" x 24 3/4" Plate: 20 1/4" x 23 1/2" Note: NOTE: Nicolai Witsen held the diary of the late explorer Maarten Gerritsz de Vries (1589-1647). He received the diary in 1692 and it has yet to turn up. In 1705 Nicolai Witsen reprinted maps with the most detailed and compiled information spanning from Europe to Japan, covering northern Russian areas and as far south as Australia. A good reference: A Chronological History of the Discoveries in the South Sea Or Pacific Ocean, Volume 3 of 5 Volume Set, Chapter 6, Page 156-157, James Burney, author. Provenance: Property from a Corporate Collection, Houston, Texas. Property from a Corporate Collection, Houston, Texas