-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Early maps of Japan online Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2003 18:11:35 GMT From: [log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] ------------------ A Modern View of Historic Japan UC’s East Asian Library and Map Collector David Rumsey Provide Online Access to Early Maps of Japan A rarely seen and fragile collection of historic maps of Japan, some dating as far back as four centuries, are now available for public viewing online as the result of a new partnership between the East Asian Library at the University of California, Berkeley, and private map collector David Rumsey. More than two hundred images of early maps of Japan, including examples of some especially rare woodblock print maps of the city of Edo (now Tokyo), from UC’s East Asian Library Japanese Historical Map Collection are represented in the online collection found at http://www.davidrumsey.com/japan Eventually, the entire map collection will be scanned by Rumsey and the university, then be placed online, so it may be viewed by anyone, without charge, at anytime from anywhere in the world over the Internet. “This is an amazing and rare collection that would otherwise be inaccessible to most people,” says Peter Zhou, Director of the East Asian Library. “Modern technology is allowing us to expand access to this important collection while at the same time ensuring its preservation for the future.” David Rumsey, owner of San Francisco-based Cartography Associates, put the maps, many that are printed on handmade paper, online. Supporting online access to the collection is consistent with his goal of providing a broad range of cultural materials to the public in ways never before achievable for learning and enjoyment, at the highest level of quality possible using the Internet. For most information on this project, including images from the site, see the University of California Press Release at http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/02/25_asianmaps.shtml Phil Hoehn, Map Librarian San Francisco -- [log in to unmask] ----------------------------------- David Rumsey Collection: http://www.davidrumsey.com