Histoire du grand Royavme de la Chine, sitvé avx Indes orientales, duisée en deux parties : Contenant en la Premiere, la situation, antiquité, fertilité ; religion, ceremonies, sacrifices ; rois, magistrats, mœurs, vs, loix, & autres choses memorables dudit royaume : Et en la Seconde, trois voyages faits vers iceluy en l'an 1577. 1579. & 1581. auec les singularitez plus remarquables y veuës & entenduës : ensemble vn Itineraire du nouueau monde, & le descouurement du nouueau Mexique en l'an 1583. Faite en espagnol (…) & mise en françois auec des additions en marge, & deux Indices, Par Lvc de la Porte, Parisien, docteur és Droits. A Monseignevr le Chancelier

Extremely rare first edition of the French translation by Luc de la Porte (cf. Lust 24. Cordier, Sinica, 12. Palau 105509. Sabin 27780. Wagner (SW) 7bb. Leclerc (1878) 258. Streit IV, 1999. Alden European Americana 588/37 – 8 copies recorded in the U.S.A. Atkinson 339.)

Contemporary full brown calf binding, spine with five raised bands decorated with double gilt compartments, joints and spine restored, gilt fillets partly faded on the edges, red edges. 17th-century binding.

Minor stain to margin at the beginning of the volume; tear to margin p. 62.

Extremely rare first edition of the French translation of one of the finest missionary accounts of 16th-century China; it includes a significant section on the Americas, notably the recent discovery of New Mexico by Antonio d'Espejo in 1583. It was through this work that Abraham Ortelius was able to complete the American section of his atlas (Sabin 27775).

Manuscript ex-libris on the title page: Cadt. Berdeilh; autograph letter signed by Marie de Berdeilh, dated Mirepoix, January 10, on the front endpaper; and an acknowledgment of debt signed by the same, mounted to front pastedown. Ex-libris of Gaston Héliot, an antiques dealer specializing in Chinese and Japanese curiosities c. 1920–1930.

This is considered one of the finest missionary accounts of China in the 16th century. Father Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza (or Mendoça), an Augustinian friar born in Toledo around 1540, died in Mexico in 1617. He belonged to one of the noblest and wealthiest families in Castile. In 1580, Philip II sent him to China to collect detailed information on local customs, politics, natural resources, climate, trade, means of transport, etc. Father Mendoza spent three years on this journey, gathering many curious observations. He later traveled to Central America, where he remained for about two years. Upon his return, he was appointed bishop of the Lipari Islands off the coast of Sicily. In 1607, he returned to Mexico as apostolic vicar.

His "Relation of China" is divided into two parts. The first contains his own observations on the geography, religion, customs, government, and laws of the country. The second part compiles accounts of Franciscan and Augustinian travels in Asia. A significant portion of the book is dedicated to America and the West Indies (ff. 240 to the end), including the 1584 voyage of Father Martin Ignacio, with fascinating details on Santo Domingo, Jamaica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and especially Mexico. It also includes an account of the recent discovery of New Mexico by Antonio d'Espejo in 1583. "Ortelius, in his Atlas, declared that he had received more information concerning America from this 'Itinerary' than from any other single book" (cf. Sabin 27775).