Important Map of Asia and North America Included in the World’s First Modern Atlas Nice example of Ortelius' map of Tartary, Japan, and the west coast of North America, from Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terarrum, the first modern atlas of the world. It is the earliest obtainable map to name California and is one of the first to include the Strait of Anian, which separates North America and Asia. The map provides a remarkable representation of what was then the Tartar Kingdom, extending from the Caspian Sea in the west, to China, Japan and Russia in the east. Taiwan is included, labeled as Isla Fermosa. The map also offers an intriguing treatment of the northwest coast of America, California, and what is today the American Southwest. Japan is shown horizontally, a typical depiction of the archipelago at the time. As with many of the maps which made up Ortelius’ popular atlas, this map was innovative for its time. Perhaps its greatest innovation was the early adoption of th