Histoire naturelle, civile, et ecclesiastique de l'empire du Japon: composée en allemand [...] et traduite en françois sur la version anglaise de Jean-Gaspar Scheuchzer [...]. Ouvrage enrichi des plans & des cartes nécessaires.

3 vol., 12mo: [2]-lxx-[2]-312, [6]-416, [4]-379-[17] pp. (some normal spotting and browning, tear in the margin of "plan de Jedo" 3rd vol. touching the engr.).

Contemp. calf (somewhat rubbed), gilt orn. spines on 5 raised bands, red leather title label, marbled endpapers.

First edition of this translation by François Naudé (orig. in 2 folio vol., The Hague, 1729) of "The history of Japan" (London, 1727-1728) by the German cartographer, orientalist and traveller E. Kaempfer (1651-1716), physician aboard a ship of the Dutch East India Company. Kaempfer landed in Japan in 1690 and stayed two years after having received permission from the Emperor to travel across the country. The result is a most accurate account of 17th-c. Japan ill. with an allegorical front. and 13 fold. maps and plans (num. I-X) including a map of the Empire of Japan, 4 town plans of Juthia (capital of Siam, now Ayutthaya in Thailand), Nagasaki, Piyako and Jedo (now Tokyo), 1 map of the Menam river (Thailand), and 4 road maps of itineraries from Nagasaki to Osaka and Tokyo. Titles in red & black.
Ref. Chadenat 1884. - Cordier, Japonica, 416-417. - STCN. - BnF. - Cp. Cox I:332.