Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743) - photo 1
Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743) - photo 2
Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743) - photo 3

Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743)

Lot 199
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 10 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 470125
Lot 199 | Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743)
Estimate value
£ 10 000 – 15 000
Jean Baptiste Du Halde (1674-1743)

Description ... de l'Empire de la Chine. 1735

DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste (1674-1743). Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine et de la Tartarie Chinoisie. Paris: P.G. Le Mercier, 1735.



First edition of an ‘encyclopedic survey of China’ (Lust). It is monumental in size and scope and provided an extensive and authentic account of China for the West. Its influence was profound, further disseminated via works such as Diderot’s Encyclopedie. Du Halde covers all aspects of Chinese achievements — in literature, science, art, and philosophy — and details geography, economy, government, religion, customs, natural history; it is one of the earliest European sources on Chinese porcelain. As editor of Jesuit missionary reports sent back from China, Du Halde had available first-hand information, and he was assisted by fellow Jesuit Cyr Contancin as corrector, newly returned from 32 years there. The 43 maps and plans are based on a survey of China commissioned by the Kangzi emperor between 1708 and 1717 and drawn by d’Anville. The map in vol. IV illustrating Bering’s 1728 voyage through the eponymous straits is the first printed map of present Alaska (S.I. Schwarz and R.E. Ehrenberg, The Mapping of America, p.151). Brunet II, 870; Cordier Sinica I, 45-48 (calling for only 4 rather than 5 plates in volume III); Lust, Western Books on China 12; Reed and Dematté, China on Paper, 2007, no. 8.



4 volumes, folio (430 x 285mm). Half-titles, title-pages printed in red and black, engraved title vignettes by M. Baquoy after A. Humblot, 4 engraved head-pieces after Humblot, 53 engraved maps of which 23 folding, 17 double-page, and 3 with contemporary outline-colouring, 11 engraved plates, of which 9 double-page, and one of printed music by Delahaye, Desbrulins, and Fonbonne after Antoine Humblot, Lucas, Le Parmentier and others, text illustrations, engraved and woodcut initials, woodcut headpieces, extra-illustrated with an engraving by Bassire cut down, mounted and inserted at p. 127 in vol. II (very occasional light spotting, staining or pale browning, small puncture at gutter in some quires in vol. II, vol. III with quire 6I misbound before 7D). Contemporary calf, gilt spine, red edges (rebacked preserving original backstrip, new spine labels, a few repairs). Provenance: ?Mazuyer de la Tourette, Lyons (armorial stamp) — ?Picache (ex libris stamp obscured) — Pierre Goyet, canon of Villefranche (bookplate) — Arthur Brölemann (1826-1905; President of the Tribune de Commerce, Lyons; armorial bookplate) — [sold Christie’s, 26 September 1997, lot 97].

Auction house category:Books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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