4 volumes. [4], viii, lii, iii, [1], 592; [4], iv, 725, [1]; [4], iv, 565, [2]; [4], ii, 520 pp. Title-pages printed in red & black; copper-engraved title-page vignettes; 5 engraved head-pieces and 5 engraved initials; a few woodcut illustrations and diagrams in text, woodcut initials, head- and tail-pieces & typographic ornaments. With 65 copper-engraved maps, plans & plates, most folding. (folio) 42.5x37.5 cm. (16¾x10¾”), period mottled calf, spines tooled in gilt, raised bands, morocco lettering pieces, marbled endpapers. First Edition.
First Edition of Du Halde's important description of China and the east, notable for the significant series of maps as well as the text and views. It was the most comprehensive survey of China printed in the eighteenth century, drawn from the accounts and surveys (both published and unpublished) of twenty-seven Jesuits. This encyclopaedic work not only provided valuable information on Chinese political institutions, education, language, medicine, science, customs and artifacts, but also included the first appearance of 43 maps by d'Anville. Drawn from recent surveys made by the Jesuits in China, these maps are considered by Tooley to be "the principal cartographic authority on China during the 18th century". The work also contains the first separate map of Korea, together with a previously unpublished account of that country by Jean-Baptiste Regis. There are two general maps of China (1 hand-colored in outline), maps of the various provinces and plans of their cities, and, notably, a 13-sheet map of Tartary (a general map and 12 detail maps), and a 10-sheet map of Tibet (a general map and 9 detail maps).
Condition:
Some rubbing to boards, corners worn and showing, joints cracked but holding, spines worn with portions of spine strips missing; several pages faintly darkened, a few instances of marginal worming, 2” tear to bottom edge of Vol. I title-page and some worming not affecting text; very good, contents quite clean.