Legatio Batavica ad magnum Tartariae Chamum Sungteium, modernum Sinae imperatorem.

Folio: [10]-184-172-[8] pp. (some min. browning and staining).

Contemp. mottled blind-ruled calf, gilt-orn. spine with raised bands (joints splitting, head repaired).

First Latin edition of this account of the embassy of the Dutch East-India Company to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China by the Dutch traveler J. Nieuhof (1618-1672), authoritative Western writer on China. Ill. with an engr. title, a large fold. map, 35 fold. pl. and 109 engr. pl. in-text depicting cities, plant and animal life in and around China. Nieuhof wrote this first-hand account as a chronicler of the Dutch embassy in China. He set off with a team of contemporary scientists in order to study the country and its culture as well as negotiate trade. Nieuhof was specifically asked to illustrate the cities, palaces, temples, rivers and others in their true to nature form.
Ref. STCN. - Landwehr (VOC) 542. - Tiele II:801. - Cordier (Sinica) 2346/7.
Prov. George Rose (armorial bookpl.).