[Montanus, Arnoldus]

Ambassades mémorables de la Compagnie des Indes Orientales des Provinces Unies vers les Empereurs du Japon. Amsterdam: Jacob de Meurs, 1680



Folio (14 x 8 7/8 in.; 355 x 225 mm). Engraved title, letterpress title printed in red and black with engraved vignette, 25 double-page or folding engraved plates, one folding map, 70 text engravings, engraved initials and head-pieces; small inkspot and mended worm puncture in engraved title, letterpress title soiled, first 3 leaves lightly browned, occasional marginal spotting and soiling, mended tear in lower margins of 3 plates but only one (Osaka Castle) entering the key in the lower portion of plate, tear in lower margins of a few leaves, lower outer corner of Rrr3 torn away without loss, some mends at plate folds. Eighteenth century mottled calf; rebacked, edges mended.

Cordier Japonica 385; Landwehr, VOC 525; Cox I:325

First edition in French.

Compiled by Arnoldus Montanus (1625-1683) from records of Jesuit missions to Japan in 1649 and 1661, and published by Jan Van Meurs for the Dutch East India Company. Van Meurs had received the privilege to publish in 1664 for both a Dutch and a French edition, but the Dutch edition appeared first in 1669, to be followed shortly after by translations in German and in English using Van Meurs plates. In the present edition, the frontispiece and four of the original large plates were recut, and many of the text illustrations are mirrored. This edition adds a plate of Fort Zeelandia in Taiwan.

The spectacular engravings illustrate Japanese costume, cities, flora and fauna, religious ceremonies, military techniques and provide a general history of Japan. Of particular interest are the action portraits of samurai, an earthquake destroying Tokyo, and formal meetings between western ambassadors and the Japanese Imperial Court.