8vo. 199 leaves, engraved frontispiece.
Cordier,
Bibliotheca Sinica, I, col. 257.
Listed on Jefferson’s undated catalogue, with the price
1.10 (livres).
Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, 1600-1659, a Spaniard, was bishop of Puebla de los Angeles in Mexico where he antagonized the Jesuits by his efforts to
protect the natives from Spanish cruelty. After his death Charles II petitioned for his canonization but was defeated by the
Jesuits.
[312]
170
Kaempfer’s history of Japan.
Eng. by Scheuchzer.
fol.
1815 Catalogue, page 12. no. 172, as above.
KAEMPFER,
Engelbert.
The History of Japan, giving an account of the ancient and present State and Government of that Empire; of its Temples, Palaces,
Castles and other buildings; of its Metals, Minerals, Trees, Plants, Animals, Birds and Fishes; of the Chronology and Succession
of the Emperors, Ecclesiastical and Secular . . . Together with a Description of the Kingdom of Siam. Written in
High-Dutch by Engelbertus Kaempfer, M.D. Physician to the Dutch Embassy to the Emperor’s Court; and translated from his Original Manuscript, never before printed,
by J. G. Scheuchzer . . . With the Life of the Author, and an Introduction. Illustrated with many Copper Plates. Volume I [II].
London: Printed for the Translator,
1727.
DS808 .K127
First Edition. 2 vol. Folio. Vol. I, 230 leaves; vol. II, 156 leaves; titles of both volumes printed in black and red, engraved
title in vol. I enclosed in a border with symbolical designs in compartments; full and double-page engraved illustrations
by Van der Gucht, engraved folded maps and plans; subscribers’ names on the last 2 unsigned leaves in vol. I.
Lowndes III, page 1252.
Cordier,
Bibliotheca Japonica, col. 413, 414.
Pagès,
Bibliographie Japonaise, no. 390.
Engelbert Kaempfer, 1651-1715, a native of Westphalia, originally wrote this book in the Dutch language. The manuscript was bought by Sir Hans
Sloane, who caused it to be translated into English. The first edition in Dutch was published in 1777-8.
Sir Hans Sloane, 1660-1753, physician, was born in Ireland. On the death of Sir Isaac Newton he became President of the Royal Society. By bequeathing his collections to the nation he became the founder of the British Museum. His name is perpetuated in London in Sloane Street, Sloane Square, Hans Place, Hans Road, and others. The imprimatur for this book is signed by him, April 27, 1727.
