Dell'Historia della China
MENDOZA, [Juan Gonzales de]. Dell'Historia della China. [48], 380 pp. Small 4to., 210 x 150 mm, bound in later vellum. Rome: G.A. Ruffinello, 1586.
First Edition in Italian, of this popular and key Western text on Ming China printed the year following the original Spanish edition. Juan Gonzales de Mendoza (1545-1618) embarked on a Mission to China in 1590 on behalf of the Spanish Crown. The resulting text recounts all aspects of China including topography, language, religion, politics among much more. It was quickly translated and disseminated throughout Europe, proving to be enormously influential in the West's understanding of China at the time.
"Mendoza's book reaches the very essentials of the life of Old China, and its publication may be taken to mark the date from which an adequate knowledge of China and its institutions was available for the learned world of Europe" (Hudson, p. 242).
A redacted library stamp on the title-page, some insignificant staining, overall a very good copy.
Cordier, Sinica 10-11. F. Hudson, Europe and China, p. 242.
Item nr. 169177
Price:
$3,250.00