Lot 82
  • 82

MENDOZA. THE HISTORIE OF THE GREAT MIGHTIE KINGDOME OF CHINA. LONDON, 1588

Estimate
35,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • The Historie of the great and mightie kingdome of China, and the situation thereof: Togither with the great riches, huge Citties, politike gouernement, and rare inuentions in the same. Translated out of Spanish by R. Parke. London: Printed by I. Wolfe for Edward White, 1588
FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH, small 4to (164 x 127mm.), Black Letter, 3 woodcut Chinese characters in text (pp. 92-93), antique-style speckled calf gilt by Aquarius, spine in compartments with raised bands gilt, housed in a folding red calf gilt box by Aquarius, without final blank, title slightly soiled, T4 with small rust hole in text with loss of a few letters, text block shaved with some loss to side-notes, headlines and pagination

Provenance

Chinese red ink stamp on title

Literature

STC 12003; Cordier, Sinica 13; Sabin 27783 "It is so rare that we have never seen it"; cf. Lowendahl 13 and 18-23; cf. Lust 23-24

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

RARE. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND INFLUENTIAL ELIZABETHAN BOOKS OF EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. The first edition in Spanish was published in Rome in 1585 and this translation is taken from the revised Madrid edition of 1586. It was translated by Robert Parke at the request and encouragement of Richard Hakluyt, before the publication of his Principall Navigations.The first part contains an account of the fifteen provinces of China and includes descriptions of printing, fishing, artillery, marriage customs and criminals. There are also three woodcut Chinese letters, the first to appear in a European book.

The second part is devoted to three expeditions: Martin de Rada, or de Harrada, to the Philippines in 1575, Pedro de Alfaro's journey in 1578, and that of Martin Ignacio de Loyola in 1581 containing his Commentarie of the New World; this describes Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rica, Jamaica, Santo Domingo and the Canaries. Ortelius, in his atlas, declared that he received more information concerning America from this book than from any other.