Five rare hand-drawn Korean maps from the 18th-century atlas Cheonhado (Atlas of the World) are set to go under the hammer in the U.K. on Tuesday, offering collectors and historians a rare glimpse into premodern Korean cartography and cosmology.

The maps, crafted during the late Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), come from the private collection of the late Patricia (1920–2010) and Denis Dunlop (1917–2012), the former New Zealand ambassador to South Korea in the 1970s. They will be auctioned by Woolley & Wallis in its “Japanese & Korean Works of Art” sale, listed under the name “Ch’onha Chido,” with an estimated value of £2,000–£3,000 ($2,675–$4,013).

The Cheonhado, also known as Cheonhajido, was a Korea-centered world atlas that included a circular world map, detailed maps of Korea’s eight provinces, and depictions of neighboring regions such as China, Japan, and the Ryukyu Islands (modern-day Okinawa). These atlases were handcrafted for uses such as administrative education, military strategy, and ceremonial presentation — and were never mass-produced.

“Crafted entirely by hand, these atlases were never mass-produced, resulting in extremely limited circulation and exceptional rarity. Only a handful of original copies are known to exist today,” said Alexandra Aguilar, an Asian Art specialist at Woolley & Wallis. “We anticipate huge interest from collectors, institutions, and scholars due to the maps’ historical and artistic value.”

The Dunlops acquired the maps during their time in Seoul. Patricia, a former British wartime decoder with a passion for gardening and art, frequently explored local antique markets with her niece, Sue Ollemans, an Asian art expert. Her collection, though modest in size, reflected a deep appreciation for Korean craftsmanship and aesthetics.

Other notable Korean items from the Dunlop collection also up for auction include:

A 12th–13th century sanggam (inlaid) celadon bowl from the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392), estimated at £1,000–£2,000.
A Joseon-era blue and white porcelain jar decorated with floral tendrils, expected to fetch £800–£1,200. A 20th-century two-fold bird-and-flower screen by artist Jeong Hae-jun (1902–1993), with a starting estimate of £200–£300.

These pieces represent an extraordinary opportunity for collectors and cultural institutions to acquire rare works of Korean heritage, many of which are typically preserved only in museums or national archives.

Sayart / Kelly.K pittou8181@gmail.com