The History of that Great and Renowned Monarchy of China.

Wherein all the particular Provinces are accurately described : as also the Dispositions, Manners, Learning, Lawes, Militia, Government, and Religion of the People. Together with the Traffick and Commodities of that Countrey. Lately written in Italian by F. Alvarez Semedo, a Portughess, after he had resided twenty two yeares at the Court, and other Famous Cities of that Kingdom. Now put into English by a Person of quality, and illustrated with several Mapps and Figures, to satisfie the curious, and advance the Trade of Great Brittain. To which is added the History of the late Invasion, and Conquest of that Flourishing Kingdom by the Tartars. With an exact Account of the other affairs of China, till these present Times. London : Printed by E. Tyler for Iohn Crook, and are to be sold at his Shop at the Sign of the Ship in S. Paul’s Church-yard, 1655. Two parts in one, folio (280 x 190 mm), bound in later panelled calf, gilt; frontispiece engraved portrait of Father Semedo, pp. [10], 308 + [2 publisher’s advertisements], with one engraved folding stub-mounted map (An Exact Mapp of China) and one engraved plate (at E2) in the first part, and one engraved map (Situs Provinciarium Imperii Sinici) and a frontispiece plate (Kk1) in the second part, which has a separate title-page (Kk2); woodcut initials and headpieces; a few leaves with some marginal staining, but otherwise a very clean, crisp example.

First edition in English of this important account of China – encyclopaedic in scope – by the Jesuit missionary Father Alvaro Semedo (1585 or 1586-1658), who served as Portuguese Procurado General for China. The second part of this volume is ‘a revised ed. of the English transl. of Martini, Bellum Tartaricum, issued separately the year before’ (Lust).

Wing, S2490; Lust, 72; Cox Vol. I, p.323