Rare travel books in Asia: mission accounts, explorations, colonial Indochina, oriental studies and illustrated works on China, Japan, Korea, Laos, Burma, Vietnam, Cambodia

First edition.
Spine very slightly sunned, not serious and with a few small tears without lack.
With 155 figures hors texte.
A good set.

First edition.
One small tear to head of spine, one small lack to foot of spine, a trace of marginal folding to foot of upper cover.

First printing of the woodcuts and headpieces by Henry de Renaucourt, one of 24 on Hollande paper.
Bradel binding in half cardboard with vellum-style bands, smooth spine, snake-skin-style title label framed with wavy gilt fillets, snake-skin cardboard bands, moiré-effect paper endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding.
Our copy, as stipulated in the justification, is complete with the Japan paper suite of the 6 original woodcuts.
Fine copy in excellent condition.

Original print.
Triptych of three prints joined together (glued at the back with a paper strip). Three sheets assembled as one. Hole at each extremity. A lack to the left margin. A central fold.
In the 12th century, Tokimune avenges his father's death by killing his murderer, Kudo Suketsune. Toshihide was a pupil of Yoshitoshi, his prints are characterized by a blend of traditional and Western styles.

First edition. Telliamed constitutes an anagram of Maillet, the author's name. The edition was published by J. Ant. Guers. The work is dedicated to Cyrano de Bergerac.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands, decorated. Red morocco title label. Skillful restorations, almost invisible to headcaps and bands. Good copy, very fresh.
In this fictional work, Maillet establishes important theories that he forged through his geological studies in Egypt and in Arabic countries, where he was also able to consult rare manuscripts of scientific theories. He believes that the earth is in fact a star and that it lives according to perpetual cycles that will lead it once...

Later edition, first in parts, as augmented with a preface and notes.
Half light brown morocco over marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, upper covers preserved.
A good copy.

First edition, rare, with 35 engravings, many double page in black, grey, and white (several with grey and black ink wash). The title may be translated as: A History of the Braves of the Southern Court.
10 accordion-stitched volumes. Three different printed covers, the first series comprising three volumes, the second four and the third three. Rubbing. Two volumes with worming to upper margin, one wormhole to centre of book touching engravings.
Numerous scenes of particularly violent combat, with decapitations and gushing blood; Court scenes. The figure of Sadahide is remarkably finely rendered and detailed, the grey and black wash adding contrast and depth.

Second edition copiously expanded with numerous texts on the Turks and Persians, following the first edition published in 1583. A rare edition, preferable to the first for its multiple additions. Printer's device on title page.
Bound in full marbled brown sheep, later 17th century. Spine with raised bands, decorated. Beige morocco title label. Upper joint split and open at head. A pale dampstain to the lower third of pages throughout the volume. Numerous leaves browned, unfortunately typical of German and Swiss paper from this period. Final leaf bearing the printer's device partly detached.
History of Persia from Antiquity to the Ottoman Empire up to 1581. This precious history is...

First edition.
Publisher's binding in full green percale, smooth spine, blind-ruled frames on covers, a slight tear without consequence at head of spine.
Work illustrated with 4 photographic plates at rear.

First edition, rare.
Contemporary full blonde marbled calf. Spine with raised bands, decorated. Red shagreen title label renewed. Slight lack at head. Foot headcap rubbed. Corners bumped.
Travel account established by Father Nicolas Frizon from memoirs written by a missionary during his passage through Turkey toward China, Jacques Villotte. As sea travel was very dangerous, two routes were chosen, one through Muscovy, the other through Turkey, the Jesuits hoping to convert the peoples of Tartary. Narrative established in third person beginning with the Jesuit's three-week stay in Constantinople. Followed by an ample description of caravan travels. Considerations on the Persians...

Rare first French edition, translated by Bouscheseiche. Without the atlas containing 11 maps that is often found separately.
Later ca 1850 half marbled green calf binding; beautiful pastiche resembling a contemporary binding. Smooth spine decorated with Greek key pattern and four fleurons. Brown morocco title and volume labels. Marbled edges. A lack at the foot of volume 2, continuing onto the board. Handsome copy, very elegant, and quite fresh overall.
Hindostan extended from the Himalayas in the North to the Malabar and Coromandel peninsulas in the South, that is to say the major part of India at that time. James Rennel's study is almost exclusively geographical, and only one...

First edition, rare.
Contemporary full marbled sheep binding. Decorated smooth spines. Red morocco title labels and black morocco volume labels. Head caps worn. Title labels very rubbed, with lacks. Some corners bumped. Dampstaining to right margin at corner on the first ten pages of the first volume.
History, geography and customs of Hindustan, that is to say the Mogul empire which extended from the Himalayas in the north, to the peninsula of Malabar and Coromandel in the south, by the sultan of one of the provinces of this nation. Fantin-Desodoards assured, initially in company with Mirabeau, the translation and formatting for the edition. The work brings together a wealth of...

First edition.
Extract from the Revue des deux mondes.
In leaves, in chemise.

First edition.
Extracted from the Revue des deux mondes.
In loose sheets, under chemise.

First edition. Half chocolate shagreen binding, spine slightly faded with five raised bands decorated with gilt fleurons, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, modern binding. Work illustrated with 28 engravings and complete with its folding map at the end. Handsome copy almost free from foxing.

Second edition of the French translation, published only a few months after the first edition of the French translation.
Half wine-colored sheep binding, smooth spine very slightly faded decorated with gilt romantic decorative motifs, marbled paper boards, contemporary binding.
Light foxing mainly at beginning and end of volume.

New edition of the French translation preceded by an introduction by Guizot.
Publisher's full red cardboard binding, smooth spine very lightly faded decorated with gilt typographic motifs, frame of gilt fillets and dots on the first cover stamped in its center with a decoration of gilt Chinese fabulous animals, light marginal spotting at head of first cover, second cover decorated with stylized black vegetal decoration, all edges gilt.
Illustrations hors-texte.
Pen gift inscription at head of half-title page, some small foxing.

First edition of this auction catalogue held on November 27, 28 and 29, 1922 at the Hotel Drouot.
Iconography.
A small tear at the head of one joint, small stains on the front cover, handsome interior condition.

New French edition, quite rare. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Peter I and a large folding map. Reprint of the original French edition published in 1717 by Jean Boudot.
Contemporary full brown sheep binding. Spine with raised bands, ornamented. Head cap partly worn. Surface damage to boards. Rubbing to headcaps and edges.
This edition was provided by Hugony, following Peter I's voyage to France. Like the texts then available on Russia, this is a 17th-century account by an English engineer who was employed in Russia for many years; the strictly historical sections have been updated. This account is highly esteemed; it is the first to have given us accurate notions about...

First edition, one of 50 numbered copies on Japan paper, ours unnumbered, the only deluxe copies.
Small tears without consequence to head and foot of spine.
Our copy is complete with the etching by Léopold Flameng here in double state as with all deluxe copies.
Rare and handsome full-margined copy.

First edition, rare, illustrated with a very large folding map of the regions between Constantinople and Tehran, and 9 lithographs (by Aubry, Vernet...), and a frontispiece portrait of the Persian prince Albas Mirza.
Restoration period half light brown sheep binding. Smooth spine decorated with fillets and tools; roulette at foot. Marbled edges. Rubbing to boards, but handsome copy with perfectly fresh paper.
Amédé Jaubert, orientalist, was first taken by Napoleon to Egypt where he served as interpreter; in 1805 he was entrusted with an important diplomatic mission to Iran where he was to negotiate with the Shah to establish France's position in that region. During his journey, he...

First edition.
Extracted from the Revue des Deux Mondes.
Rare.
In plain wrappers.

First edition. Extracted from the Revue des Deux Mondes. Rare
In plain wrappers.

First edition.
Bound in modern cream parchment-like full paper boards. Black sheep title label. Tear with loss in margin without any damage to text of the first 4 leaves. Various leaves with brown stain in lower margin. Brown stains pp. 356, 357 and 508, 509. Correspondence of crucial importance between the governor of Pondichéry and the lieutenant-General of the armies of India on the French situation in India and the government of Pondichéry from 1758 to 1760. A trial was established in favor of Leyrit by the complaining family against Lieutenant-General de Lally, accused of implacable hatred against his governor and betrayal of the interests of the king of the French state and the...

First work on contemporary painting in Japan, following the first exhibition of Japanese art in Paris at the Grand Palais in 1922.
Numerous plates.
Rare.
In original wrappers with folded covers.
Excellent condition.

NB: This work is available at the bookstore upon request within 48 hours.

New edition.
Publisher's half dark green shagreen binding, spine with four false raised bands decorated with triple gilt compartments, cold-stamped frames on dark green sheep boards.
Work illustrated with a frontispiece engraving.
Copy free from foxing.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Work illustrated by Rickebush and El Geardi.
About a journey to Ceylon.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition,
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First editions.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

New edition after the first French (translated by Demeunier) in 1775. Illustrated with two frontispieces by Eisen (representing slaves under the English yoke and the English army in India) and a folding map of India.
Contemporary full speckled sheep bindings. Smooth spine decorated. Title label of volume I missing. Rubbing to spines. Joint of volume II opened at foot. Corners slightly bumped. Frontispiece frayed in lower margins. It appears, according to a comment contained in the work, that Bolt had himself written the article on Bengal in the Histoire philosophique et politique des deux Indes. The criticism present in the book indeed follows that of Raynal's book, namely a...

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover.
Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

First edition.
Plain paper cover. Rare.

Excerpt from the Revue des deux mondes.
First edition.
In plain wrappers. Rare.

Original edition.
Binding half canvas tree, silent smooth back, marbled paper plates with small discolored spots, a few snags on the cuts, contemporary binding.
Signed autograph from the author to Meline Mr. Chairman and Minister of Agriculture.
Shaded guards.

Second edition.
Full black paper boards, smooth spines, tan sheep title and volume labels with a small angular loss, one joint very slightly cracked then reglued at head, red edges, modest contemporary bindings.
Some minor foxing without consequence, otherwise a handsome copy complete with its folding map at the beginning of the volume.

First edition.
Signed autograph inscription from Nguyen-Huu-Khang.
Spine worn, front board detached with corner losses, slight marginal loss at head of second board, paper yellowed.
Rare but in this condition.

First edition, one of 20 numbered copies on pur fil, ours one of 5 hors commerce lettered copies, the only deluxe copies.
Small marginal tears with two slight lacks to covers, handsome interior condition.

New edition of the French translation, this one by Franz Toussaint, one of 1000 numbered copies on vellum, the only printing with 50 Japan copies.
Half brown shagreen binding with corners, smooth spine slightly faded decorated with gilt floral motifs featuring, as petals, incisions of red shagreen, marbled paper boards, endpapers and pastedowns, covers and spine preserved, top edge gilt, contemporary binding.
Work decorated with numerous ornamental borders and initials in two tones by J. Vergély.
Handsome copy.

First edition published in a small number of copies.
Spine faded and clumsily restored with adhesive tape, three angular lacks to boards.

Edition translated from the English version by S. Saito & E. Greey of this famous Japanese historical novel.
Work illustrated by Kei-Sai Yei-Sen.
Attractive illustrated cover.
Minor marginal lacks harmlessly affecting the margins of the first leaves.

First edition.
Marginal tears to covers, handsome interior condition.
Rare.

Second edition with some parts in first edition as revised and expanded.
Illustrated with 4 photographic plates.
Spine sunned with a small stain at head, trace of label at head of first cover, good interior condition despite occasional light foxing, gift inscription in pen on title page.
Rare.

First edition.
Spine and boards slightly and marginally sunned without gravity, a tiny tear with lack also affecting the following pages while diminishing to, finally, disappear, handsome interior condition.

First edition.
Bradel binding in full cardboard covered with marbled paper, smooth spine with tears and paper losses, faded olive shagreen title-label, bookplate pasted to verso of front cover.
Signed autograph inscription from Jean Senamaud.
Illustrated work with a frontispiece portrait of Confucius.
Endpapers lightly shadowed without significance, otherwise handsome interior condition.

First edition, a Service de Presse (advance) copy.
Signed autograph inscription by Paul Chack, ex dono from the dedicatee at head of an endpaper.
Two small tears at head and foot of spine, paper yellowed.
Work illustrated with 4 maps drawn by the author.

First edition, one of 600 numbered copies on Holland paper, the only deluxe copies with 30 on Holland paper.
Handsome copy.