I would start the automobile's development with the work of Ferdinand Verbiest and his miniature steam car/toy created for the Chinese Emperor way back in 1672. Yes, this was just a model ...

The map showing the two hemispheres of the world in the Hunterian collection was designed for the Second Qing Emperor of China, Kangxi (1662-1722) by the Jesuit Father Ferdinand Verbiest (1623-88 ...