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The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.
The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.
The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.
The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.

first quarto edition


DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste.

Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoisie.

The Hague, Henri Scheurleer, 1736.

$9,248.00
$9,248.00

Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique

94 New Bond Street

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94 New Bond Street
London W1S 1SJ
United Kingdom

+442074930876
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The first quarto edition, issued one year after the first in folio format, of Du Halde's 'encyclopaedic account of China' (Lust) -- and one of the earliest European sources on Chinese ceramics.

Du Halde, who became a Jesuit priest in 1708, was entrusted by his superiors to edit the published and manuscript accounts of Jesuit travellers in China. The present work records the narratives of twenty-seven of these missionaries. Also notable is the Relation succinte du voyage du capitaine Beering dans la Sibérie, which is the first published account of Vitus Bering's 1728 voyage through the eponymous straits, whose importance he failed to recognize after sighting no land.

From the library of John Hales Calcraft (1796-1880), British Whig and Conservative politician.

First 4to edition; 4 vols, 4to (27.4 x 21.5 cm); text in French, title-pages printed in red and black, engraved title vignettes and head-pieces, 53 engraved plates, 17 of which folding, retaining cancel leaf 4E4 with closed binders incision, armorial bookplate to front pastedowns, a couple small tears to folding plate hinges; contemporary tree calf, gilt rolled board borders, edges, and turn-ins, flat spine in six gilt compartments with gilt contrasting red and green morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers, all edges yellow, professional restoration to a couple small areas of spines, else a fine set.

Brunet II 870; Cordier (Sinica) I, 45-48; Cox I 355; De Backer & Sommervogel IV, 35; Lada-Mocarski 2; Lowendahl 398; Lust Western Books on China 12; Wickersham 6099.

Stock code 120805

DELIVERY & RETURNS

We accept returns within 30 days of purchase. Please note that all items must be returned in their original condition, including all tags and packaging. Shipping costs are non-refundable.
The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.

Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique

$9,248.00
$9,248.00

Ask a question

Firsts Hong Kong | Highlights

First edition of Hong Kong by Ellen Thorbecke, one of the iconic picture books by Schiff with the scarce dust-jacket.
First edition of Hong Kong by Ellen Thorbecke, one of the iconic picture books by Schiff with the scarce dust-jacket.

THORBECKE, Ellen.
Hong Kong. n.d. [1940].
$822.00

The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.
The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.

RICCI, Matteo; TRIGAULT, Nicholas.
De Christiana Expeditione apud Sinas Susepta ab Societate Iesu, 1616.
$10,275.00

First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.
First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.

CRANSTON, Claudia.
I've Been Around. 1937.
$343.00

Signed presentation copy of the first edition of Far Eastern Impressions by Ernest Hatch, recording a tour of Japan, Korea, and China in 190 before the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, better known as the Manchuria Crisis.
Signed presentation copy of the first edition of Far Eastern Impressions by Ernest Hatch, recording a tour of Japan, Korea, and China in 190 before the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, better known as the Manchuria Crisis.

HATCH, Ernest.
Far Eastern Impressions. 1904.
$377.00

First edition of Basil Hall's Account of a Voyage of Discovery, part of the Amherst embassy, explored the relatively little known East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Visits were made to Korea and the Ryukyu Archipelago.
First edition of Basil Hall's Account of a Voyage of Discovery, part of the Amherst embassy, explored the relatively little known East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Visits were made to Korea and the Ryukyu Archipelago.

HALL, Capt. Basil.
Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island; 1818.
$3,425.00

First edition of The Opium Clippers by Basil Lubbock, in the scarce duist-jacket which has preserved the lavish binding in lovely condition.
First edition of The Opium Clippers by Basil Lubbock, in the scarce duist-jacket which has preserved the lavish binding in lovely condition.

LUBBOCK, Basil.
The Opium Clippers. 1933.
$548.00

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