Polo, Marco

FIRST EDITION IN FRENCH, 4to (207 x 143mm.), woodcut publisher's device on title, larger device on verso of final leaf, numerous woodcut initials, twentieth-century red crushed morocco, sides with ruled and tooled border in blind, spine in six compartments with raised bands, lettered and tooled in gilt, dentelles gilt  

Masson (?), contemporary signature on title

Cordier, Sinica 1977-78; Löwendahl 9; Watanabe (1986) 228; Western Travellers in China 7; cf. Adams P1791; cf. PMM 39

Very minor spotting, staining, or browning, endleaves with some dust soiling, pen notes to a few leaves, binding with very minor rubbing to corners and defects to leather.
"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."

THE RARE FIRST FRENCH EDITION. "MARCO POLO WAS THE FIRST TO GIVE ANYTHING APPROACHING A CORRECT AND DETAILED ACCOUNT OF CHINA AND THE FAR EAST, and the accuracy of his geographical knowledge is indicated in the correct placing of Far Eastern countries in the fourteenth-century Portolani (manuscript charts), which are clearly based on his book." Marco Polo was a member of a prosperous Venetian mercantile family, who "set out with his father and uncle in 1271 on a journey to the East. Starting from Acre the party travelled through Persia and the upper Oxus to the Pamir plateau, and then through Mongolia and the Gobi desert to the extreme north-west of China, reaching Shantung in 1275. Here they sojourned at the court of Kublai Khan until 1292, finally arriving back in Venice, after travelling through south-east Asia and southern India in 1295. During his stay in China, Marco Polo took an active part in the administration of the country and travelled widely in the Great Khan's service. He saw (or obtained knowledge of) large parts of China, northern Burma, Tibet, Japan, south-east Asia, the East Indies, Ceylon, southern India, Abyssinia, Zanzibar and Madagascar, Siberia and the Arctic" (PMM 39).

The translation by François Guget appears to be based on the Latin version in Novs orbis regionum (1532). This edition was evidently shared and simultaneously issued with a variant title and end leaf by several booksellers: Jehan Longis (as here), Estienne Groulleau, who may have been the printer, and Vincent Sertenas, in whose name the privilege was granted.