Dear Maphists,

My Münster map of America „Die Neüwen Inseln/  so hinder Hispanien gegen Orient/  bey dem Landt Indie ligen (sic)“ close to the island of ZIPANGRI indicates that there are 7448 islands.

I understood this to be based on information from Marco Polo. He, however, clearly states “no fewer than” 7440 islands. (Book 3, chapter 4, Of the Sea of China…etc).

Is there an explanation for this discrepancy?

Jens Bornholt