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Lot 31

KAEMPFER (ENGELBERT)
The History of Japan: Giving an Account of the Antient and Present State of Government of that Empire... together with a Description of the Kingdom of Siam, 2 vol., for the Publisher, and Thomas Woodward and Charles Davis, 1728

3 December 2014, 14:00 GMT
London, Knightsbridge

£3,000 - £5,000

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KAEMPFER (ENGELBERT)

The History of Japan: Giving an Account of the Antient and Present State of Government of that Empire... together with a Description of the Kingdom of Siam, 2 vol., first edition in English, second issue (with the additional appendix in volume 2), translated by J.G. Scheuchzer, titles printed in red and black, additional engraved titles and 45 mostly double-page or folding plates and maps (plate 20 shaved touching image), light dampstaining in volume 2, contemporary calf, neatly rebacked preserving original gilt spine labels [Cordier, Japonica 414-415], folio (350 x 215mm.), for the Publisher, and Thomas Woodward and Charles Davis, 1728

Footnotes

Kaempfer's History of Japan "was for more than a century the chief source of Western knowledge of the country. 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 appendices, on tea, Japanese paper, acupuncture, moxa, ambergris, and Japan's seclusion policy" (DSB). Kaempfer was a physician for the Dutch East India Company's trading settlement at Nagasaki in the late seventeeth century. Sir Hans Sloane acquired the manuscript after Kaempfer's death, and arranged for it translated into English for this edition.

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