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.

London : for the Publisher, and sold by T. Woodward and C. Davis, 1728. First edition in English, second issue (with the ‘Second Appendix’). Two volumes, folio, contemporary full speckled calf with double gilt rule (boards a little scuffed), expertly rebacked with new spines in period style, spines in compartments with raised bands, contrasting leather labels and gilt lettering and ornament, original endpapers, titles printed in red and black, both volumes with additional engraved titles in Latin dated 1727; vol. I with four preliminary pages, pp. lii; [vi]; 391; [blank]; (4 – explanation of the plates), small tear to margin of pp. 121-22, vol. II with title leaf; contents leaf; pp. 393 – 612; 75; [blank]; [ii – title leaf for the Second Appendix]; 11; (blank]; (6 – index); (2 – blanks), (4 – explanation of the plates), illustrated with 45 mostly double-page or folding plates and maps, including a fine map of Japan and a folding map of Nagasaki; repaired tears to plate 37, otherwise all plates are clean and bright, as are the text pages; a fine set in contemporary bindings.

German-born naturalist and physician Engelbert Kaempfer’s monumental work was the result of his time at the Dutch India Company’s trading post on Deshima Island (Nagasaki), where he was employed as a VOC surgeon for four years from 1690. During his sojourn there Kaempfer dedicated himself to the study of the Japanese language, as well as to Japanese history, medicine and botany. Twice he was able to travel to Edo with the annual VOC embassy to the Shogun, and his descriptions and maps record the landmarks on this journey in great detail. Not only was Kaempfer’s work the first serious study of Japan; it remained the most important source on the country and its culture until well into the nineteenth century. It was translated into English from the Dutch for this edition by J.G. Scheuchzer, the librarian of Sir Hans Sloane, who had acquired the manuscript along with Kaempfer’s papers and collections in 1723-5. Kaempfer’s collection of Japanese books, maps, natural history specimens and artefacts, brought back to Europe from Nagasaki, is now held in the Department of Oriental Antiquities at the British Museum.

Cordier, Japonica, 414-415; Landwehr, 530; Streit VI, 1429; Laures, 594; Cox I:332; Garrison-Morton 6374.11; Wellcome III:376