KAEMPFER, Engelbert (1651-1716). Histoire Naturelle, Civile, et Ecclesiastique de l'Empire du Japon: Composée en Allemand... & traduite en François sur la Version Anglaise de Jean-Gaspar Scheuchzer. The Hague: P.Gosse & J.Neaulme, 1729.

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KAEMPFER, Engelbert (1651-1716). Histoire Naturelle, Civile, et Ecclesiastique de l'Empire du Japon: Composée en Allemand... & traduite en François sur la Version Anglaise de Jean-Gaspar Scheuchzer. The Hague: P.Gosse & J.Neaulme, 1729.

2 volumes, 2° (350 x 232mm). Titles in red and black with engraved vignettes. Engraved frontispiece, one headpiece, 45 plates, plans and maps (33 double-page, 10 folding). (Worming to outer lower margins of both vols and inner margins of vol.I with resultant small holes in plates, a few leaves with the worm-damage repaired.) Old sheep, spines gilt (spines and edges repaired). Provenance: Paris Graff zu Wolkenstein et Trostburg (inscriptions dated 1735, armorial bookplate); Bibliothek der K.K. Central-Seebehörge (library stamps); Bibliotheca Franciscana ad S. Claham Cathari (library stamp).

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH. Kaempfer was a naturalist, traveller and doctor who, on behalf of the Dutch East India Company, visited Japan in 1690. He remained for 2 years and gathered an enourmous amount of information and specimens: the important botanical material was bought, after his death, by Sir Hans Sloane, who organised the English translation of this work. Brunet III.638. (2)

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