Details
ENGELBERT KAEMPFER (1651-1716)
The History of Japan... Together with a Description of the Kingdome of Siam. Translated by J.C.Scheuchzer. London: printed for the publisher, and sold by Thomas Woodward and Charles Davis, 1728. 2 volumes (vol.II including the 'second' appendix dated 1728), 2° (35 x 22cm). Titles in red and black. Engraved additional title dated 1727 in vol.I, 45 engraved plates, plans and maps (7 folding, 33 double-page). (Vol.I with 150mm. vertical tear to plate facing page 139, small tear to fold of large map of Japan between pp.134 and 135, vol.II with large section of outer blank margin of P2 torn away.) Contemporary speckled calf gilt (extremities worn, joints somewhat split).
FIRST EDITION of a work that "was for more than a century the chief source of Western knowledge of [Japan]" (DSB vol.7, p.205). Kaempfer was in Japan from September 1690 to October 1692 as a physician in the employ of the Dutch East India Company. After his death in 1716 his papers were purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, who arranged for the present work to be translated from German and published. It contains "the first biography of Kaempfer, an account of his journey, a history and description of Japan and its fauna, a description of Nagasaki and Deshima; a report on two embassies to Edo with a description of the cities which were visited on the way; and six appendixes, on tea, Japanese paper, acupuncture, moxa, ambergis, and Japan's seclusion policy" (DSB vol.7, p.205). Cordier Japonica 413; Nissen BBI 1019. (2)
The History of Japan... Together with a Description of the Kingdome of Siam. Translated by J.C.Scheuchzer. London: printed for the publisher, and sold by Thomas Woodward and Charles Davis, 1728. 2 volumes (vol.II including the 'second' appendix dated 1728), 2° (35 x 22cm). Titles in red and black. Engraved additional title dated 1727 in vol.I, 45 engraved plates, plans and maps (7 folding, 33 double-page). (Vol.I with 150mm. vertical tear to plate facing page 139, small tear to fold of large map of Japan between pp.134 and 135, vol.II with large section of outer blank margin of P2 torn away.) Contemporary speckled calf gilt (extremities worn, joints somewhat split).
FIRST EDITION of a work that "was for more than a century the chief source of Western knowledge of [Japan]" (DSB vol.7, p.205). Kaempfer was in Japan from September 1690 to October 1692 as a physician in the employ of the Dutch East India Company. After his death in 1716 his papers were purchased by Sir Hans Sloane, who arranged for the present work to be translated from German and published. It contains "the first biography of Kaempfer, an account of his journey, a history and description of Japan and its fauna, a description of Nagasaki and Deshima; a report on two embassies to Edo with a description of the cities which were visited on the way; and six appendixes, on tea, Japanese paper, acupuncture, moxa, ambergis, and Japan's seclusion policy" (DSB vol.7, p.205). Cordier Japonica 413; Nissen BBI 1019. (2)