[CHINA]
RICCI, MATTEO [TRIGAULT, NICOLAS, trans.]. Histoire de l'expedition Chrestienne au royaume de la Chine entreprinse par les peres de la Compagnie de Iesus, comprinse en cinq liures, esquels est traicte fort exactement et fidelement des moeurs, loix, & coustumes du pays, & des commencemens tres-difficiles de l'Eglise naissante en ce Royaume. Lille: Pierre de Rache, 1617. Second edition in French (after the Lyon edition of 1616). Early (probably contemporary) lapped vellum, titled in ink on the spine. 7 3/4 x 6 inches (19.5 x 15 cm); [xii], 559, [5] pp., collating *^(4) **^(2) A-4A^(4) Binding a little soiled, neatly recased with new endpapers and spine lacing, slight stain to the first few leaves, occasional minor toning but in all a very clean copy. Stamp of the Franciscan Monastery at Weert on the title.
Ricci was one of the founders of the Jesuit missions to China. He taught himself to read and write classical Chinese, and translated some of the Confucian classics into Latin. In 1584, he designed the first European-style map of the world in Chinese (no examples are extant, but copies dating from 1602 on exist). Ricci was invited to become an advisor to the Emperor, which gave him extraordinary access to the court. Upon his death in 1610, he was buried in Beijing, an unusual privilege for a foreigner in China. The basis for the present work is Ricci's papers, found in his office after his death, and translated by Trigault, also a member of the Jesuit order. The first publication was 1615, in Augsburg. All early editions are rare and desirable. Cordier Sinica 809-810; Sommervogel, VIII, 240.