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[Asia] DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste, S. J. (1674 - 1743).
Description geographique, historique, chronologique, politique, et physique de l'Empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoise.
The Hague: Henri Scheurleer, 1736.
4 volumes, 4to (9 ¾ x 7 ¾ in.; 24.7 x 19.7 cm.). Title-pages printed in red and black with engraved publisher's devices, engraved folding map of Canton, 52 engraved plates (some folding and hand-colored) including a number of city plans, 5 engraved vignette head-pieces, 6 diagrams in the text, many by J. C. Philips after A. Humblot, others by Humblot after J. van de Spyk, one by Philippe van Gunst (most unsigned), woodcut head- and tailpieces and woodcut initials throughout; some early tape repairs to the map of Canton, pale marginal stains towards the end of volume one, some stains to the early gutters of volume 2, minor loss to the lower left corner of the folding plate Cortege d'un Viceroy”, a small marginal tear to the folding plate of the Peking Observatory” in volume 3. Contemporary mottled calf, spines gilt in six compartments, red and black morocco lettering-pieces; extremities a bit worn with minor loss, hinges starting.
FIRST QUARTO EDITION, with a new preface and bibliography, having first been published in Paris the previous year in a folio edition. The illustrations are reduced versions of the plates of the first edition (some of which were woodcut) and fine engravings of Chinese life including city plans, ceremonies, artisans at work, costumes, etc. The maps were published separately by Bourguignon d'Anville in 1737, also reprinting the contents of the1735 edition.
"THE FIRST DEFINITIVE EUROPEAN WORK ON THE CHINESE EMPIRE” (Hill). Du Halde became a Jesuit in 1708, and was commissioned by his superiors to bring together the published and manuscript accounts of Jesuit travelers in China. He first began by editing much of the comprehensive "Lettres édifiantes et curieuses écrites des missions étrangères" (1702-1776), one of the most important sources for Jesuit missionary activities in the 18th century. His later "Le Description " includes reports of 27 Jesuit missionaries, all listed in the preface, and covers every aspect of Chinese life and culture. The first printed account of Vitus Bering's first expedition to Alaska in 1725-1728, is included in volume four: "The original report traveled a circuitous route to fall into Du Halde's hands. The Danish Vitus Bering (1681-1741) had entered the Russian navy as a young man and risen through the ranks. His expedition was sponsored by the Russian Czar Peter the Great. When Bering returned to St. Petersburg in 1730, five years after the death of Peter the Great, his account and an accompanying map were sent as a gift to the King of Poland, who gave them to Du Halde with permission to do with them "as he saw fit". In this way the first account of Bering's important exploration was published in France rather than in Russia, where the full narrative was not published until several years later" (Hill).
PROVENANCE: 19th-century ownership inscription of Julie Mestral-Tavel on the recto of the first blank in each volume, except volume two, which is lacking the first blank and has the slightly later ownership inscription of Julie Mestral-Payerne in a different hand on the title-page. REFERENCES: Brunet II, 870; Cordier "Sinica", p. 48; Hill 498.