Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) – Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628, editor)

Lot 59
28.04.2021 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 3 500
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 519350
Lot 59 | Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) – Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628, editor)
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) – Nicolas Trigault (1577-1628, editor)
Histoire de l'expedition chrestienne au royaume de la Chine. Translated into French by D. F. de Riquebourg-Trigault. Lyon: Horace Cardon, 1616.
First French edition of one of the century’s most important works on China. First published in Augsburg by Christopher Mangius (1615), ‘this chronicle about the Western mission in China from 1583-1611… provided a systematic portrait of contemporary Chinese society as perceived by Ricci, who was fluent in Chinese and exhibited both a sympathetic interest in Chinese culture and an erudite perspective on the Jesuits' accomplishments. [This work] was among the most important and widely read books on China published during the seventeenth century’ (Marcia Reed and Paola Demattè, China on Paper, 2011). Cordier Sinica I, 809; De Backer & Sommervogel VIII, 240; Streit V: 2096.

Octavo (170 x 110mm). Engraved title, frontispiece portrait and folding woodcut and letterpress plate (some minor pale browning and staining). Contemporary limp vellum, title inscribed in manuscript on spine (missing sewing support at one corner resulting in a slight detachment from the textblock, some staining).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
14.04.2021 – 28.04.2021
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms