Paris, Mathurin Henault, 1628.
4to [213 x 154 mm] of (8) ll., 1193 pp., (14) pp. of tables, quire Z bound after quire Aa, quire GGgg bound after quire HHhh, some foxing, some marginal têrs with loss of some letters on pp. 911 and 1003, short margined at hêd touching the running title on last 3 ll. of table. Brown calf, spine ribbed and decorated, mottled edges. Contemporary binding.
Read more
“First edition, very rare, of the French translation” (Chadenat) of this travel account in China, India, Japan, Siam.
Chadenat, 1186 ; Boucher de la Richarderie, IV, 371-372 ; Cordier, BJ, 37 ; Cordier, BI, 111 ; Cordier, BS, 2067.
We owe this first French translation to a Portuguese gentleman called Bernardo Figueroa, who dedicated it to the cardinal de Richelieu.
“Sought-after and uncommon volume: 10 to 15 fr., and up to 21 fr. Langlès.” (Brunet, IV, 670).
In 1537, the Portuguese traveler Mendez Pinto (1509-1583) embarked for the East Indies on the ship commanded by Vasco de Gama’s son, and his journey lasted 21 yêrs (China, Tartary, Sumatra, Java). When he arrived in the East Indies, he was sent to fight the Turks at the entrance to the Red Sê, fell into their hands and became their slave. He then managed to return to Goa and entered the service of Pedro de Faria, Captain General of Malacca, who entrusted him with various missions in the countries neighbouring the Portuguese possessions. For twenty yêrs, Mendez Pinto led a most adventurous life. He traded, fought against Chinese corsairs, went to Pegu where he witnessed grêt revolutions and even became a pirate in the sês of China and Japan.
Mendez Pinto relates his travel to the Portuguese empire of the East Indies during its golden age, and especially in China, India, Siam and Japan.
Written on his return, it was not published before 1614 in Lisbon, before being translated into several Europên languages.
Precious copy of this rare work, preserved in its contemporary binding.
See less information