2016 Petrie Map of Japan as Godzilla

A signed modern cartographic masterpiece, this is artist Anthony Petrie's 2016 map of Japan overlaid with the image of Godzilla. The map covers all of Japan. Adjacent lands that would presumably represent China or Korea, are fictional. Shading, which on most modern maps is intended to illustrate oceanic depths, here takes the form of Godzilla, a giant lizard monster invented by Ishirō Honda in 1954. Japanese provinces are identified with Godzilla's many enemies and spinoffs, including Mechagodzilla (1 and 2), Space Godzilla, Fairy Mothra, Megaon, King Caesar, Gigan, Gorosauras, and others. Inset maps in the lower right identify Monsterland and Monster Island, the later of which is 'Site Omega' or 'Isla del Diablo' where Godzilla originated. Petrie, the creator of this image, was inspired by 17tgh century Flemish heraldic maps such as the iconic 'Leo Belgicus.'

The map was composed and printed by Anthony Petrie in a limited edition of 100, of which this is no. 35. There are two editions of this map, one in color, as here, and another in black and white (which was printed in an edition of 50). While we do not normally work with modern cartographic material or artist prints, we found this work too compelling to resist.