Map of Celebes Island (西里伯島圖)
Cartographer / Artist: Unknown Japanese Cartographer
Date Created: c. 1870
Medium: Hand-colored woodblock print on paper
Physical Dimensions: 9.4 × 7.2 in
Geographic Scope: Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia
Archive Catalog ID: fp10-img-2285
Provenance: The Dr. Joseph R. Rubini Archive
Collection: Edo & Meiji Japan: Cartography & Early Photography
This fine Japanese woodblock map depicts the island of Sulawesi (historically known as Celebes), rendered in a distinctive pink wash with intricate hachured mountain ranges. The map extends to include the surrounding waters of the East Indies, featuring the eastern coastline of Borneo (labeled 婆羅洲島) across the Makassar Strait, as well as the islands of the Maluku archipelago to the east. The title block in the upper right corner clearly designates the sheet as 'Map of Celebes Island' (西里伯島圖). Historical and geographic details are highlighted through traditional kanji text complemented by phonetic Japanese katakana side-annotations, such as 'セレベス' (Celebes) along the strait and 'マカッサル' (Makassar) at the southwestern port settlement of 馬加撒府. This dual labeling reflects the 19th-century Japanese adoption and translation of Western geographical knowledge during the late Edo and early Meiji periods, making it an insightful document of Japanese cartographic history in Maritime Southeast Asia.
Condition: Light age-toning and mild foxing across the paper surface.. Central vertical fold line with minor wear, as originally issued in an atlas format.. Strong woodblock print lines with vibrant, well-preserved original hand-coloring.




