Tapa SHS 2_Layout 1 3/5/15 2:24 PM Page 1 catalogue n˚2 Fine Books Travel & Exploration hs rare books & maps - 2015 Tapa SHS 2_Layout 1 3/5/15 2:24 PM Page 2 item nº 54 item nº 50 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 1 catalogue n˚2 Fine Books Travel & Exploration hs rare books & maps - 2015 hs rare books & maps []1 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 2 hs rare books san martin de tours 3190, capital federal cp 1425 argentina (+54) 911 5512 7770 email: [email protected] website: www.hsrarebooks.com by appointment only all items are guaranteed to be complete unless otherwise noted. returns are accepted within 7 days of receipt. front cover: item nº 9 []2 fine books, travel & exploration 2 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 3 Index africa 8, 21, 29, 48 & 48 america 3, 6, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 51, 52, 53, 55, & 56 argentina, chile & paraguay 6, 12, 15, 19, 26, 27, 37, 39, 40, 41, 48, 52, & 55 asia 2, 3, 5, 11, 44, & 49 brazil 7, 13, 30, 31, & 37 china 2, 44, 46, 48, & 49 colombia & venezuela 16, 54, & 55 hispanic world 1, 4, 9, 10, 18, 20, 38, 42, 47, & 50 iconography & plate books 9, 16, 19, 41, 46, 48, 51, & 54 maps 3, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 32 & 34 mexico 23, 33, 47, & 53 middle east 9, 20, 35, 43, & 49 navigation & piracy 1, 5, 8, 13, 14, 29, 32, & 38 pacific 4, 5, 6, 11, & 45 peru 12, 17, 28, 34, 42, & 56 philippines & south east asia 5, 11, 36, 43, 44, 46, & 49 slavery 33, 45, 47, & 51 hs rare books & maps []3 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 4 1. Regulating Privateering activities in Spain: the most significant treatise on the subject written in Spain abreu y bertodano, felix lose. Tratado juridico-politico sobre Pressas de Mar y calidades que deben concurrir para hacerse legitimamente el Corso. N.d. [1746]. N.p. [Seville]. In 4to (195 mm x 140 mm). 1 [blank] + 27 ff. + 335 + 1 [blank]. Contemporary calf, very discrete, only simple tooling, mostly faded, head and foot worn but overall very good. An excellent copy, in its original condition, with full mar- gins and very clean paper. First edition —one of three editions in the same year, all are rare. Abreu s learned work is one of the most significant treatises on priva- teering ever made in Spain; its scope encompasses the entirety of the subject, compiling the available regulation at the time and including his own views on the subject. Virtually all the decrees, acts, and ordi- nances on piracy published in Spain are included in Abreu s work. There were three editions published in 1746, for which no priority is known: the printing locations were Madrid, Cadiz and this one, pre- sumably Seville. Palau attributes this to the printer A. de Barreda of Seville. “This valuable work, which is much less known in this coun- try than it deserves to be was translated into French” (McCulloch p. 127). There is little to be found on the life of Abreu (1722-1766), except that he was Ambassador to France in the mid 18th century and that he was also author of other treatises on navigation and sea-affairs. We are only able to trace one copy having sold at auction, in 2006, in the last 50 years. palau, 1009. []4 fine books, travel & exploration Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 5 shs rare books & maps []5 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 6 []6 fine books, travel & exploration Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 7 2. One of the last great representatives of the Jesuit Order in China; handsomely illustrated manuscript, of a seminal history of China amiot, joseph-marie. Abregé chronologique de l’histoire universelle de l’Empire Chinois. N.d. [1770-1789]. In folio (309 mm x 195 mm). 123 ff. [Abregé chronologique de l’histoire universelle de l’Empire Chinois] + folding drawing [between first and second ff.] + 1 [blank] + 11 —mostly folding— tables with measurements, units and currency [last three numbered 9, 9a & 9b] + 1 [blank] + 1 ff. [Explication des Figures] + 10- 20 —several drawings] + 1 [blank] + folding drawing + XLV [Explication des Planches, Explication des figures, and Explication des Monuments] + 1 [blank] + 1 ff. + 1-32 ff. [Première partie, contenant les tems Mythologiques ou fabuleux depuis Pan-Kou jusqu’à Fou-Hi] + 3 [blank] + folding drawing + 1 ff. + 25 pp. [Seconde Partie contenant les tems douteux ou incertains depuis Fou-Hi fondateur de la Monarchie; jusqu’à Hoang-Ly qui en est proprement le législateur] + 2 [blank]; 1 ff. + folding drawing + CLXI [Troisième partie contenant tous les tems historiques ou certains depuis la 61e année du regne de Hoang-Ly] + 2 [blank]. Contemporary calf, spine restored, some rubbing, raising bands and tooling to spine, lettered in gilt, very good. Manuscript on paper, in the same hand, tears to a few folding ff. without loss, some scattered very light foxing, very clean paper, excellent condition overall. Striking manuscript on the history of China, by the hand of Jesuit active during the second half of the 18th century, and one of the peri- od s greatest sinologists; appealingly illustrated and in its entirely gen- uine condition. Amiot (1718-1793) was a French Jesuit Priest, missionary, sinologist, historian and astronomer; after his ordination as a member of Society he asked to be sent to China, sailing towards Macao in 1749, and arriv- ing in 1750. A year later, 1751, Amiot arrived at Peking, where he stayed hs rare books & maps []7 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 8 until his death. In China he gained the favour of the imperial Qianlong court —often employing himself as translator of Western languages. His time could not have been worst, notably for the forbid- ding of the Jesuit Order in 1764 and the revolution of 1789; the Chinese political climate and openness towards European influence had changed dramatically, long-gone were the days of Mateo Ricci and Ferdinand Verbiest. The persecution and martyrdom of Priests was becoming more frequent as the banning of the Christian faith was about to happen. These factors rendered his efforts of establishing the Catholic faith rather fruitless. However, Amiot s passion for the cus- toms, history, languages, and music of the country, made him carry on, becoming a scholar, well versed in Chinese overall culture -translating Sun Tsu s Art of War and composing a Manchu-French grammar and dictionary. In his iconography, he is often portrayed with a beard and hat, resembling a Chinese scholar. The seminal work “Memoires con- cernant l’histoire, les sciences, les arts, les moeurs, les usages, etc. des Chinois: par les Missionaires de Pekin” (1766-91), is often attributed to him, although not its only author; his attribution as compiler points out to his vast knowledge of the country. Amiot’s work is to be regard- ed amongst the most significant contributions to the Western knowl- edge of Chinese culture and thinking. “While in China, he helped ver- ify certain geographical locations, thereby making a major contribu- tion to the perfection of the Jesuits’ project of mapping the empire.” (Encyclopaedia Britannica). At the end, the manuscript is dated and given authorship “fini à Peking l’an 1770 par Amiot”. The work is divided into three parts, each dealing with different aspects of Chinese history: first part “contenant les tems Mythologiques ou fabuleux depuis Pan-Kou jusqu’à Fou-Hi”, second part “contenant les tems douteux ou incertains depuis Fou-Hi fonda- teur de la Monarchie; jusqu’à Hoang-Ly qui en est proprement le lég- islateur”, and the third part “contenant tous les tems historiques ou certains depuis la 61e année du regne de Hoang-Ly, jusqu’à la 35e []8 fine books, travel & exploration Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 9 année du regne de Kien-Long, c’est à dire, depuis l’an 2637 avant jes. Ch. jusqu’à l’an 1770 de notre Ere vulgaire: Explication de la Planche 4me; Du cycle sexagénaire des Chinois; Des cycles chinois en général; Table chronologique de l’histoire chinoise terminant 2207 années avant J.C”. On ff. 2 is found the [Discours préliminaire à Monsieur Bignon, Conseiller d’Etat, bibliothécaire du Roi, Prevôt des Marchands &c. À Péking, 1769]. The illustration comprises four impressive large folding drawings in brownish and black ink [one representing the inside of a palace, another a writer in an idyllic landscape with exotic flora and fauna]; 19 mostly-folding tables, with measurements, and Chinese coinage; and drawings in text. Provenance: ownership manuscript inscription “Jay payé ce vol en 1789 162 l[ivres] t[ournois]”; a manuscript of this text –however we cannot determine weather it was this one- was included in the sales catalogue of the library of M. J. G. de la Porte du Theil, Paris, 1816, n° 2893. Presented in Shanghai at the exhibition From gesture to language (26 April to 11 August 2013). There is another copy of this text at the BNF (Collection Brequigny). cf. sommervogel, i, 294. hs rare books & maps []9 Cat SHS 02_layout 1 3/5/15 2:20 PM Page 10 3.