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an old book with a picture of a man wearing a hatan open book with chinese writing on it on a white surfacemany different types of weapons displayed on this page
Premium Jeschke Jádi Auctions Berlin

Estimate €4,200 - €5,000
Sale commission
Description
China Amiot et al., Joseph Marie Mémoires concernant l'Histoire, les Sciences, les Arts, les Moeurs, les Usages, &c. Des Chinois. By the Missionaries of Peking. 15 vols. With a total of 190 partly folded Plates and 3 frontispieces. Paris, published by Nyon, 1776–1791. 4°. Contemporary half leather with some gilt edging and gilt-stamped spines, speckled edges (bindings somewhat rubbed and slightly worm-eaten, headbands with scuffs). First edition of this monumental and important work on China. – Chadenat, 375. – Cordier, B. s. I, 37. – Boucher de La Richarderie, V, 284. - With an ex-libris of the Comte de Larodde. - The magnificent series *Mémoires concernant les Chinois* was a key source for the European perception of the Chinese empire, its culture, science, religion, customs and regional studies (including music, food, astronomy, botany, the tael currency, horses, the life of Confucius, life at court and in the countryside, as well as a wealth of other cultural information). It formed an important foundation for French Sinology. The volumes bring together important reports by French and Chinese missionaries in Beijing. Among the missionaries who contributed to this work were Amiot, Cibot, Bourgeois, Poirot, Ko and Yang. The work is undoubtedly regarded as the finest work published by the Jesuits on China. It includes a Manchu-Tatar grammar, portraits of famous Chinese figures, etc. Vol. 9 contains a French–Italian parallel translation by Poirot of letters written by the Kangxi Emperor (1654–1722) to his sons in Tartar. Volume VII is a reprint of Amiot’s *Art militaire des Chinois* (Paris, 1772), which is regarded as the first translation of ancient Chinese military strategy into a European language. Two supplements were published by 1814, dealing, amongst other things, with Chinese chronology. - With bookplate on the inside cover. Overall, a clean and well-preserved copy. First edition of this monumental and important work on China. 15 vols. Half leather with some gilt decoration and gold-embossed bookplates, speckled edges (covers slightly rubbed and with light wormholes, head letters showing some wear). - With bookplate. - The magnificent series *Mémoires concernant les Chinois* was an important source for the European perception of the Chinese world empire, its culture, science, religion, customs and regional studies (including music, food, astronomy, botany, the tael currency, horses, the life of Confucius, life at court and in the countryside, as well as numerous other regional studies). It formed an important foundation of French sinology. The volumes bring together important accounts by French and Chinese missionaries in Beijing. Among the missionaries who contributed to this work are Amiot, Cibot, Bourgeois, Poirot, Ko and Yang. The work is undoubtedly regarded as the finest work published by the Jesuits on China. It includes a Manchu-Tatar grammar, portraits of famous Chinese figures, etc. Vol. 9 contains a parallel French-Italian translation by Poirot of letters written by the Kangxi Emperor (1654–1722) to his sons in Tartary. Volume VII is a reprint of Amiot’s *Art militaire des Chinois* (Paris, 1772), considered the first translation of ancient Chinese military strategy into a European language. Until 1814, two further supplements were published, dealing with Chinese chronology, amongst other things. – Overall, an impressive and well-preserved edition. This lot is subject to standard tax. A 24.95% buyer’s premium is payable on the hammer price, and 7% (Books and Art) or 19% VAT (Manuscripts, Screenprints, Offset Prints, Photographs) is payable on the final invoice amount within the European Union. This lot is subject to the standard margin scheme. A 24.95% buyer’s premium applies to the hammer price, and 7% (books and art) or 19% VAT (manuscripts, screen prints, offset prints and photographs) applies to the final invoice amount within the European Union.
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About the sale Valuable books, prints, historical photographs
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 10:00 AM
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