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NIEUHOFF, Johann (1630-1672)
Ambassades Memorables de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales des Provinces Unies, vers les Empereurs du Japon. Contenant plusieurs choses remarquables arrivées pendant le voyage des Ambassadeurs; et deplus, la description des villes, bourgs, châteaux, forteresses, temples & autres bâtimens: des animaux, des plantes, montagnes, riviéres, fonteines; des moeurs, coutumes, religions & habillemens des Japonois: comme aussi leurs exploits de guerre, & les révolutions tant anciennes que modernes que ces peuples ont essuyées
Amsterdam: Jacob de Meurs, 1680. 2 parts in one volume, folio (14 7/16 x 9 1/4 inches). Letterpress title in red and black with engraved vignette. Engraved additional title, 1 folding map, 25 plates (4 folding, 21 double-page), 70 illustrations, 1 head-piece and 2 initials. Contemporary mottled calf, spine gilt in seven compartments with raised bands, black morocco lettering-piece in the second, the others with repeat decoration in gilt, endpapers with browned margins. Provenance: Joannes Joseph, count Thun (armorial bookplate, red ink "Tetschner Bibliothek" stamp on verso of letterpress title).
A fine wide-margined copy of this important early description of Japan: an eye-witness account from the missions despatched by the Dutch East India Company
According to the preface, this work was translated from a Flemish original. The work has a wide remit and provides information on a range of different subjects: the title gives a precis, noting that it includes details of "many remarkable things which happened during the voyage of the Ambassadors; in addition, descriptions of the towns, boroughs, châteaux, fortresses, temples & other buildings: the animals, the plants, mountains, rivers, springs; the way-of-life, customs, religion and costume of the Japanese; also their wars and revolutions, both ancient and modern."
Cordier notes (correctly) that the plate list at the end of part one lists "15 fig. hors text" (including the map) and that at the end of the second part "11 fig. hors text" are detailed. What is not mentioned is that one of the figures mentioned in the plate list for part one is not required ("Temple du Dayro" at p.222), whilst part two includes an additional plate not mentioned on the list ("Grande Temple proche de Saccai" at p.93).
Cordier Bibliotheca Japonica 385; Landwehr VOC 525.
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#19559 $12,000.00 
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© 2002-2005 Donald A. Heald
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