HISTOIRE NATURELLE, CIVILE ET ECCLESIASTIQUE DE L'EMPIRE DU JAPON: Composee En A.

La Haye 1729, Grosse.Full contemporary leather,Volume 1 only 217p., French text, 45 engraved copper plates, 4 engraved maps, some folding, complete, small folio: 37 x 23.5 cm., ie: 45 fine double page copper plates. FIRST FRENCH EDITION *** *** *** . . . VOLUME 1 ONLY, COMPLETE AS ISSUED . . . A STUNNING & EARLY ILLUSTRATED PRIMARY RESOURCE ON . . JAPAN & SIAM . . . WRITTEN BY A GERMAN DOCTOR STATIONED IN . . . THE DUTCH COLONY ON DESHIMA ISLAND, NAGASAKI . . . PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED WITH 45 LARGE ENGRAVINGS & MAPS . . . WITH EARLY EXAMPLES OF ACUPUNCTURE & INSTRUMENTS . . . EARLY ILLUSTRATED EXAMPLE OF THE TEA PLANT . * THE FIRST FRENCH EDITION, 1729: . The most valuable & accurate 18th century work about Japan. Kaempfer was a physician to the Dutch Embassy at the Emperor's court. This is the French edition translated by Jean-Gaspar Schuetzer from the 1727 & 1728 English editions. . His privileged position & acute powers of observation enabled him to write a detailed & far-reaching account of Japanese history, culture, economics & natural history. . Kaempfer also found it fascinating to draw, illustrate several examples of the Japanese language, acupuncture instruments, 'points' to apply acupuncture needles & human anatomy 'points' charts. . He also found and drew the Tea plant, and others related to Washi [handmade mulberry] & other fibers used in to make the super strong and flexible paper. . *** With two appendices on Tea and Japanese Papermaking, index, with additional commentaries on Siam. Kaempfer [1740-1812] was the director of the Deshima factory in 1779-1780 and 1781-1784. . Volume 1 contains the first three books on Japan. When present volume 2 continues and also includes texts on Siam. . *** Color photos are posted to our website . *** LIST OF THE FIRST 12 COPPER-ETCHED PLATES & MAPS: 1. ETOILE DE MER 2. PLAN DE JUTHIA, [SIAM] 3. PLAN DU PALAIS ROYAL DE SIAM 4. LA PRIMINDE DE PUKATHON 5. VUE DES DEUX COURS DU TEMPLE DE BERKLAM 6. UN GRANDE PIRAMIDE 7. CARTE DE COURS DE LA RIVIER DE MEINAM 8. CARTE DE L'EMPIRE DU JAPON [large folding] 9. KIRIN 10. MUKADDE 11. POIFFONS [fish] 12. QUATRE DIFFERENTES FORTES D'ANGUILES . The large folding maps show all of Japan, Edo, Kyoto, Nagasaki & Deshima Island and several others. . Continued with a total of 45 mostly 2 page engraved illustrations, plan and maps, most of the maps open to be more than 2 full pages. . The title page titles are printed in red and black ink with engraved vignettes and a full-page engraved half title page. . CONDITION: OF THE 45 SUPERB COPPER ENGRAVED PLATES: . These plates are in pristine & excellent condition, fresh, bright and solid without any issues. By and large, every page in this book is superb, far and above other examples. . THE FULL PERIOD LEATHER BINDING: The work is bound in contemporary calf leather, with two armorial devices, one per each cover. The original spine is present, with the red leather label & gold stamped titles, and other elaborate spine gilt decorations. With 6 raised bands. . Being a contemporary binding, this is 392 years old, and is showing its age. In original condition, the front hinge is cracked at the top and bottom portions; the back hinge is cracked top to bottom. There are some old tears to the covers, some mended, scuffed, corners and edges rubbed, loss of leather and the like, usual for a book of this age and period. . There are 2 old black stamps, one on the lower edge of the half-title, no image affected. The other is at the lower one-third of the title page in the right margin. Both have been mildly 'sanded' each is 2.3 cm. in diameter, not of major impact to the book. The stamp says "IHS" balance unread. . Remarkably the book is still relatively firm in the binding The end papers are the mid-18 type, large patterned hand-marbled French examples. . The major point we would like to emphasize, is that the covers have performed their duty. The contents remains incredibly bright, clean, solid, firm and without issu.…