De beschryving van Japan, behelsende een verhaal van den ouden en tegenwoordigen staat en regeering van dat Ryk [trsl. into Dutch after the English trsl. from the German by J.G. Scheuchzer].

Folio: [6]-50-[2]-500 pp. (front. sl. soiled, occ. minor browning, 1 fold underlaid in Japan map).

Old quarter roan (sl. rubbed), decorative marbled paper over covers, ink titled spine. Beautiful uncut large paper copy.

Rare first Dutch edition and most valuable and accurate account of 17th-c. Japan in Dutch language, by E. Kaempfer (1651-1716), German physician aboard a ship of the Dutch East India Company. Kaempfer landed in Japan in 1690 and stayed for two years after having received permission from the Emperor to travel across the country. Engr. ill. (complete): front. by J.C. Philips, 48 double-page maps and plates (numb. I-XLV, pl. XXVIII and XXIX with A- & B-number, pl. 24 followed by 24*; 9 folding, 1 full-page; some numbers in ms.) depicting views, costumes, alphabet, temples, ceremonies, Japanese fauna and flora, ships, coins, etc., including 1 large folding map of the Empire of Japan, folding city plans of Nagasaki and Jedo (= Tokyo) and 7 regional maps showing the itinerary of Kaempfer. Title in red and black.
Ref. Tiele 584. - Landwehr (VOC) 531. - Cordier (Japonica) 417-418. - STCN. - Not in BL.
Prov. Armorial blind stamp on flyleaf & title.