AN EMBASSY FROM THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY OF THE UNITED PROVINCES, TO THE GRAND TAR

London 1669, Macock. FIRST ENGLISH EDITION. Full leather, raised bands, gold stamped, engraved title page printed in red & black, 2 copper etched frontispieces,folio 27 x 41 cm. 327+184+106p., 121 copper etched plates, COMPLETE. RARE . .*** *** *** . . COMPLETE AS ISSUED WITH THE MAP AND ALL ENGRAVINGS . . . ONE OF THE EARLIEST BOOKS ON CHINA IN ENGLISH . . . PROFUSELLY ILLUSTRATED WITH 212 FINE COPPER-ETCHINGS . . . PUBLISHED IN THE MID 17TH CENTURY . . . A LARGE FOLIO SIZE, AN UNTRIMMED COPY AS ISSUED . . . EXCELLENT COPY WITH GOLD-STAMPED SPINES & DECORATIONS . . . BOUND IN FULL PERIOD LEATHER . . . A DUTCH RECORD OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY . . . ARRIVED IN CANTON MARCH 1656, ARRIVED NANKING JULY 1656 . . . AN HISTORIC AUDENCE & VISIT WITH THE SHUNZHI EMPEROR. . . *** This is the primary record of the Dutch Embassy to Nanking [Nanjing], China. It is also an historic and first meeting by the Dutch with the SHUNZHI EMPEROR [Shun-chih] [1638-1661]. . *** SUBTITLE From the Title Page continued: . "Where in the Cities, Towns, Villages, Ports, Rivers &c., in Their Paffages From Canton to Peking, are Ingenioufly Defcribed by Mr. John Nieuhoff, Steward to the Ambassadours" [sic]. . "Also an Epistle of Father John Adams Their Antagonift, Concerning the Whole Negotiation. With an Appendix of Feveral Remarks Taken Out of Father Athanasivs Kircher, Englifhed and Fet Forth With Their Feveral Sculptures, by JOHN OGILBY, EFQ.; Mafter of His Majefties Revels in The Kingdom of Ireland." [Many important words on the title page are printed in red ink.] . *** THE TITLE PAGE IMPRINT: London, Printed by John Maock, for the Author, MDCLXIX [1659]. End of title page text. . *** WRITTEN IN "OLDE ENGLISH" STYLE SPELLING: This work was written in "Olde English" of the period and commonly used "f" for "s" therefore per the above, we faithfully repeat the exact spelling found on the title page. This custom continued throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries in England. . *** THE TWO FULL-PAGE ENGRAVED FRONTISPIECES: The first copper etched frontispiece is of John Ogilby, followed by an engraved title page, after which comes the red and black printed title page. . The title pages of both first and second editions were printed in red and black ink, as issued. There is also an engraved and copper etched illustrated title page. . *** THE 121 COPPER-ENGRAVED ILLUSTRATIONS: . THE FOLDING MAP "DEFCRIPTION OF CHINA" The double-page copper etched folding map [ca 45.5 x 36.5 cm.] map was done by Nieuhoff, engraved by Arclhibaldo Erskino. This map shows China and its provinces; Part of Tartary, Tanyn, Korea, Japan, Formosa, the tip of the Philippines, Aynam [Tunking= N. Vietnam], Kingdom of Cannan [Cambodia & Laos]. The area from Canton northward, follows an imaginary river up to Nanking, to Pekin with all smaller cities, lakes in between. . CONDITION OF THE MAP: The map is in excellent condition with some old folds, and one old small tear mend to the verso, it is solid and stable and complete . *** THE COPPER-ENGRAVED PLATES: FULL AND ONE-THIRD PAGE SIZE: . There are 41 full-page copper engraved plates, 26.5 x 41 cm. [sheet size], average image size 22 x 31 cm. The text engravings are average 15 or 16.5 x 9.5 or 10 cm. Many engravings by Hollar. . Note: Because there is no printed list of plates in this work, the actual location of some of the full-page engravings may differ or not be present. Also, the engraving count may differ between the various copies and editions. These early books were assembled by very young and mostly illiterate "printer's devil." The insertion of the plates were commonly inserted upside down, or omitted by their error. Due to this reason, total print count may vary. On page 220, the one-third engraving: "CHINESE PRIESTS AND MONKS" is upside down. There is a pagination error from page 184, where the page numbers skip to page 205 and continue onward. This simply means an error in the numbering the pages, nothing is missing or lacking. Part one properly ends at page 327.There are a few of the usual "printer's devil" feint inky finger prints in the margin of a few pages. By and large the books is exceptionally clean and free from any or other marks, blemishes and issues. . *** THE CONTENTS: . Part I: "AN EXACT RELATION OF THE EMBASSY FENT BY THE EAFT-INDIA-COMPANY OF THE UNITED PROVINCES, TO THE GRAND TARTAR CHAM, OR EMPEROUR [sic] OF CHINA: Delivered at Peking, the Imperial City, &c." Begins at page 1 through page 327. . * Part II: . "A NARRATIVE OF THE SUCCEFS [sic]OF AN EMBASSAGE SENT BY JOHN MAATZUYKER DE BADEM GENERAL OF BATAVIA; UNTO THE EMPEROUR OF CHINA & TARTARY, The 20. of July 1655. Soliciting a Licenfe of Trade in the Port of his Empire. Dedicated to Antonio De Camera, Captain General of the City of the Name of God, with the Magiftrates thereof. Written by Jefuite in thofe Parts." Begins at page 1 through 18. . * Part III: [in 2 parts] a. Part I: "AN APPENDIX OR SPECIAL REMARKS TAKEN AT LARGE OUT OF ATHANASIUS KIRCHER HIS ANTIQUITIES OF CHINA." Begins at page 1 through 21. . b. Part II: "ATHANASIUS KIRCHER OF THE VARIOUS VOYAGES & TRAVELS UNDERTAKEN INTO CHINA." Continues with pagination: 21 through 106, to the end of the book. . The above 2 parts contain: full page engraving of 11 various Chinese people, text illustration of 3 Tartar, and two Kalmacks, and text engravings, followed by a full page engraving of the "Supreame Monarch" [sic], and another full page engraving of "Matthaevs Riccivs Macert" & "Ly Pavlvs Great Colavs...," and another full page showing a Chinese lady, 1 text engraving, another full page: "typus Fuffae Feu Cybelis aut Ifidis Sinenfium." [a Buddhist icon], 8 text engravings of flora & fauna, a full page engraving of "The Bridg...," and 3 other text engravings. . * HISTORTIC IMPORTANCE: . This grand-scale Deluxe and RARE work was one of the earliest English language texts which brought new and wondrous information to England and Europe, of a continent mostly unknown at that time. China was a distant and closed nation, and only a few early Jesuits were allowed access to the interior. . *** THE EMBASSY: This embassy was Europe's first attempt to open China to the west. A truly superb and marvelous primary resource. Stunning, documenting an important beginning in European contact and diplomatic history with China. Books of this period, size, and caliber have now become exceptionally scarce, and seldom found complete in excellent condition. . *** WHO WAS JAN NIEUHOFF [1618-1672], THE DUTCH EXPLORER: . Jan [John in English] Nieuhoff was the steward, chronicler and draftsman for the first Dutch embassy to China. In the mid-17 century, the Dutch were at the height of their power and decided to gain access to China and a share of the Chinese trade. After a great deal of Chinese opposition, the Dutch did manage to succeed in sending some merchants to test the trade waters of Canton. . The drawings during Nieuhoff's travels of both Canton and Peking were also later used to produce the first engravings of China to be published in England. Interesting insights to both the Dutch and Chinese world views are revealed in the text. It took the Dutch embassy a long while to convince the Chinese that they had any homeland at all. The Chinese had been convinced they were sea nomads ! The lack of success of the Dutch was really a result of Portuguese Jesuit intrigues and had little to do with the behavior of diplomatic skills of the Dutch. This is a rich and revealing primary resource that reports on the important meeting between East and West. . *** Quoted from Dunne [see below] : "Interesting is Nieuhoff's description of the Shun-chih Emperor as he saw him at the imperial audience where the Dutchmen were received together with an embassy from the great Mogul'A young man, white of skin, of medium size; rather plain, wearing a vest which seemed woven from gold." page 348. Adam Schall was also present at this historic meeting and he spoke to the Dutchmen in German. . *** CONDITION: THE FULL SIZE, UNTRIMMED COPY: . This copy is in the full-size as issued, not a trimmed down version of the original. Other copies are smaller having been been trimmed. . THE BINDING: BINDING: This folio is 27 x 42 cm., it is bound in full calf, preserving the original gold-stamped decorated covers. The spine consists of six raised bands and seven compartments: five black, two red, all gold-stamped with large decorations. There are two red label stateing "OGILBY'S CHINA," below which is the second red label stating "Vol. I." . This is companion volume identically bound as volume II by by Arnoldus Montanus, title: ATLAS CHINENSIS: BEING A SECOND PART OF A RELATION OF REMARKABLE PAFFAGES IN TWO EMBASSIES FROM THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY OF THE UNITED PROVINCES, TO THE VICE-ROY SINGLAMONG & GENERAL TAISING LIPOVI, AND TO KONCHI, EMPEROR OF CHINA...London 1670, please see our number: 410265 on our website or check with us for availability. . There is a nicely etched period armorial bookplate inside the front cover. . *** THE CONTENTS: By and large the contents is clean. There is some of the usual minor transfer on a few, discoloration or 'toning' to some pages, usual minor foxing, a few pages with small marginal stains, a few professionally mended tiny closed tears, else this is an excellent example, firm and squarely bound, with all edges clean and aligned. We tend to be overly critical of condition, by and large in collector's condition. By and large a nice copy of a very RARE book ! . *** THE TRANSLATOR: JOHN OGILBY [1600-1676]. See Wikipedia for additional background information. . Per the title page the work was: "Englifhd, and fet forth with their feveral Sculptures, by John Ogilby Efq; His Majesties Cofmographer, Geographick printer, and mafter of the revels in the Kingdom of Ireland." [sic] . *** The title pages of both first and second editions were printed in red and black ink, as issued. . *** CONDITION: This book is nearly 350 years old, as can be expected with any work of this age, there are always the normal and usual minor scuffing, minor wear to the corners & edges. The work was professionally re-backed perhaps more than a 100 years ago, preserving the original spine. The book is firmly bound and very solid. . *** This is a large, heavy and valuable work. At our option, it will only be shipped by Fedex, appropriate packing, insurance and signature fees apply. . *** >>> ======================================================= DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP OF 10 COPPER ETCHED TEXT PLATES: . The items have been extracted from the text, all are trimmed. The last 3 items are on a single sheet: 2 on the front, 1 on the back, with English test. Again the text is trimmed on right and left edges. . The other 7 items are text plates. . Some views were drawn by W. Hollar with a very small "W.H." in the lower right corner. . Sold "as is" as a lot. . END GROUP OF 10 PLATES >>>> ===================================================== . *** NOTE ! The below only applies to the SECOND EDITION SECOND EDITION: . Contains 19 full-page sheets, one is a double-page, one has 2 plates on a single sheet, plus 94 smaller text illustrations, all are copper-etched and engraved. . *** CONTENTS: . Three parts in one folio by John Macock for the author: * Part I: AN EMBASSY. * Part II: A NARRATIVE OF THE SUCCESS OF AN EMBASSAGE SENT BY JOHN MAATZUYKER DE BADEM, GENERAL OF BATAVIA; UNTO THE EMPEROUR OF CHINA & TARTARY, THE 20 OF JULY 1655. SOLICITING A LICENSE OF TRADE IN THE PORT OF HIS EMPIRE. * Part III: Appendix OR SPECIAL REMARKS TAKEN AT LARGE OUT OF ATHANASIUS KIRCHER HIS ANTIQUITIES OF CHINA. This also covers travels, essays and illustrations on Tibet. *** This early account of China covers a wide variety of subjects including a large section on newly discovered plants, herbs and fruits of South China. It begins with a double page copper etched map of all China, Corea, part of Japan, Formosa, South to the Kingdom of Cannan [Annam or Vietnam], Tartary. It includes and shows the outlined provinces with rivers noted, and the small cities along the great rivers; lakes, animals, flora and fauna. Additionally covers landscapes, views of villages, temples, people &c. . *** THE TEXT & COPPER-ETCHED PLATES: . Major cities such as Canton, Nan-an, Kan-Chou, Nanking, Kiu Kiang, An King, Wuhu, Yang Chow are nicely illustrated and described. Peking also are carefully described and noted, with key & distance chart of miles. A meticulous description of the people, laws, customs, provinces given in much detail. The work is lavishly illustrated with fine examples. Each edition of this title had variant numbers of plates. These high-quality copper plates illustrate the manners, costume and customs of the Chinese. . !! END OF THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EDITION . ************************************************************ . *** This is a large, heavy and valuable work. At our option, it will only be shipped by Fedex, appropriate packing, insurance and signature fees apply. . *** REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHY: * Wing 1641-1700: N1152 * Taylor 238 * Morrison p.565 * H. H. Cordier: SINICA: column 2347 [also columns: 2345-2346] * J. Lust: WESTERN BOOKS ON CHINA PUBLISHED UP TO 1850: pages 534-542. * Graesse, IV, p.675 * Brunet IV, 77 * Cox: TRAVEL: I, p.325 * Dunne: GENERATION OF GIANTS * Cameron: BARBARIANS & MANDARINS * http://www.worldcat.org/search?q=ti%3AAtlas+Chinensis&qt=adv anced&dblist=638 * .