Tartaros en China, historia.Madrid, Joseph Fernadez de Buendia for Lorenço de Ibarra, 1665. Small 8vo (14.5×10 cm). Late 18th-century gold-tooled mottled goatskin.

[40], 188 pp.First edition of the Spanish translation of an “important and extremely popular work on the history of China. Many editions followed [after the original Latin edition of 1654], … testifying of the enormous interest for China all over Europe and the impact the book had on the European image and conceptions of the Empire” (Hanotiau). The Italian Jesuit Martino Martini (1614-1661), travelled to China in 1643 at a time of great internal unrest, witnessing the violent overthrow of the ancient Ming dynasty in the years 1643-1644. Besides the present work, Martini is also well-known for the atlas of China that he published together with Joan Blaeu.With owner’s inscription on title-page. The title-page is somewhat worn, a small corner of D2 torn off, a minor ink stain in the outer margins of 3 leaves and the head margin trimmed close to the running heads. Still a good copy. Some very minor damage to the spine of the binding, otherwise very good.l Cordier, Sinica, col. 626; Lust 45; cf Hanotiau 15; Löwendahl 107.