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Engelbert Kaempfer
The History of Japan

1728

$15,131.90
£11,392.79
€12,800
CA$20,884.29
A$23,395.02
CHF 12,168.32
MX$285,370.99
NOK 154,918.88
SEK 146,077.46
DKK 97,446.41

About the Item

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. Weight : 6.5 kg Publisher: J.G. Scheuchzer 2 vols. bound in 1. In Folio, 707 pp., 45 beautiful engraved plates and maps. The 2 volls are bound together in an elegant hard cover on brown carboard and leather, in fine conditions except a very minor consumption on edges. Internally, flyleafs on brown marbelised paper. The front and rear plate of cover are decorated Japanese-style using emperial japanise symbols on each angle. Spine with 6 nerves, with title and year of publication engraved in gilt. Double frontispiece, the first of 1727 edition with letters in black, the second of the 1728 one, with letters in black and red showing some note in ink (particularly a date, “1753”, close to the title). Version of 1728 of the first edition of this important account of Ancient and Present (XVII-XVIII century) State and Government of the Empire of Japan, the first complete of the second Appendix by Simon Dilboe, Hamond Gibben and William Ramsden. Excellent conditions, with just some minor stains on last pages of the Appendix. Tables in truly fine conditions, with very fresh printing line and excellent conditions of sheets. Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716) was a German physician and naturalist. He had been working in Japan as physician for the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie in Nagasaki from 1690 to 1692. During his stay he visited Edo twice, being received by the Shogun s part of the local head of the Compagnie. He then took many important informations about Japan, making sketches of plants, buildings, manufacts etc., which would have been then used as model for the engravings of the book. After his return to Europe he devoted much of his time to writing accounts about his travelling experiences. Since Kaempfer died in 1716, the manuscript of the History of Japan was acquired by Sr. Hans Sloane and translated by his librarian Johann Caspar Scheuchzer, who then became also the publisher of the English editions of the book in 1727 and 1728 (this second release is the first complete of a Second Appendix, as described above). The success of the book, which first introduced European audience to the real History, Cultural and Physical description of Japan, allowed the release of a Dutch (1729 – 1733) and a French (1733) edition and of a later and shorter German edition (1779). This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy created over 70 years ago by an artist who has died requires a licence for export regardless of the work’s market price. The shipping may require additional handling days to require the licence according to the final destination of the artwork.
  • Creator:
    Engelbert Kaempfer (1651 - 1716, German)
  • Creation Year:
    1728
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.98 in (35.5 cm)Width: 9.45 in (24 cm)Depth: 2.96 in (7.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Period:
    1720-1729
  • Condition:
    Insurance may be requested by customers as additional service, contact us for more information.
  • Gallery Location:
    Roma, IT
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: J-272991stDibs: LU65032368873

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