Rare Books and Special Collections, and University Archives, at UBC
Library are pleased to announce the launch of a newly digitized
collection: "Japanese Maps of the Tokugawa Era", at
http://angel.library.ubc.ca/tokugawa/.



UBC Library's Rare Books and Special Collections holds one of the
world's largest collections of maps and guidebooks of the Japanese Edo
period, also called the Tokugawa period, 1603-1867. The core of the
collection was formed after World War II by George H. Beans. Over 300
maps from the collection have been digitized and are searchable and
viewable online. The digitization process allows the user to see a whole
map as well as offering detailed views of larger or smaller portions of
the maps.



The focus of the Beans collection is on privately published and
travel-related maps and guides published in Japan. There is world
coverage, although the majority of maps are of the whole or parts of
Japan. A number of prominent Japanese woodblock artists are represented
in the collection.



The digitization of the Japanese Map Collection is a collaborative
project between the UBC Library’s Rare Books and Special Collections and
the University Archives. In the first phase of the project all the
single-sheet maps have been digitized. A second phase will digitize the
maps in atlases. Bronwen Sprout, Digital Initiatives Librarian at the
University Archives, and Katherine Kalsbeek, Reference and Maps
Librarian at Rare Books and Special Collections guided the first phase
of the project to completion. Special thanks to Leslie Field, Archives
Assistant, who provided expert assistance and guidance with the
digitizing work.



The project is funded by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, and has
also received support from the Department of Asian Studies.



The collection is located at: http://angel.library.ubc.ca/tokugawa/
(click on the "detailed image" link in each record to zoom in on the
images). Please send comments or suggestions to: Bronwen Sprout
[log in to unmask] or Katherine Kalsbeek
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>.



For further information contact Ralph Stanton, Rare Books and Special
Collections Librarian at 604-822-4879.



--
Ralph Stanton

Rare Books and Special Collections Librarian

University of British Columbia Library

Irving K. Barber Learning Centre

1961 East Mall
Vancouver, BC

V6T 1Z1



Telephone: 604-822-4879

Fax: 604-822-9587

Email: [log in to unmask]