Description
A very good copy of the scarce 1st English edition of Du Halde's General History of China, translated in 4 volumes by Richard Brookes. Complete with 19 copper engraved plates, of which 11 are folding; 4 folding maps; and numerous head and tailpiece decorations and decorative initial capitals. Du Halde (1674 - 1743) was a French Jesuit and used the letters and accounts written by other Jesuit missionaries to compile his work. it was first published in French in 1735. This English translation was made by Richard Brookes, an English physician known for translating works of natural history, geography, medicine and surgery. All 4 volumes are in full leather: the contemporary boards have been retained and they have new matching spines with raised bands, gilt tooling and gilt titles and volume numbers. The boards are in very good condition with occasional light scuffing. Corners have been rebuilt where necessary. All the volumes have the decorative stamp of Mr Thistlethwayte on the front pastedown and his signature at the top of the title page. Volume I has an engraved frontispiece of Confucius; title page in red and black inks; dedication to Frederick, Prince of Wales, by Richard Brookes; preface; contents listing; folding maps of China and the entrance into Canton; 2 folding plates and 3 one page plates. 509 pp. There is a half title part way through to head up a section on Chinese Monarchy.The map of China has professional repair to a tear around the attachment, and the Canton map has a small repair. Vol II has a frontispiece of Father Matthew Ricci; red and black title page; dedication to the Rt Hon Arthur Onslow; contents listing; text with 9 plates, of which 8 are folding. 438 pp. Vol III has a frontispiece of Father Adam Schael; dedication to Dr Mead; contents listing; text with 2 pages of musical notation, one page plan of an instrument and a diagram of the 5 elements; and one folding plate.496 pp. Vol IV has a frontispiece of Father Ferdinando Verbiest; dedication to the Directors of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the E Indies; and 2 folding maps - Tibet and Captain Beering's travels. The Tibet map has a small tear which has been professionally repaired.464 pp. All the contents are in very clean condition with the occasional mark or spot. The paper to some sections is quite brown toned. There some corner tip creases and a crease across the top edge of p69/70 in Vol II which has been caused by a binding fault. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.
