Lot n° 201
Estimation :
1200 - 1500
EUR
Result without fees
Result
: 2 300EUR
201. BRETON DE LA MARTINIÈRE (Jean-Baptiste). La Chine en mi - Lot 201
201. BRETON DE LA MARTINIÈRE (Jean-Baptiste). La Chine en miniature, ou choix de costumes, arts et métiers de cet empire. Paris, Nepveu, 1811-1812. 6 volumes in-18, signed binding in red calf of the period, boards decorated with a cross-braced decoration and framed with a golden garland. Spines entirely covered with a thin layer of red morocco decorated with a very fine gold decoration, titled and tomés. Work signed Simier in the tail of the spine of volume one. All edges gilt.
First edition of this trip to China which is part of the collection of Nepveu's small trips.
The work is particularly sought after for its illustration, composed of 108 figures out of text representing picturesque scenes, traditional trades, objects of daily life, weapons and musical instruments and Chinese costumes. It can be in black or in color, our copy has its colored figures. Very fresh colors.
These engravings were executed for the most part from sketches and unpublished originals from the collection of Henri Bertin (1720-1792), a French statesman, controller of the Compagnie des Indes and passionate about China. He had allowed two young Chinese Catholics to come and study in France and then return to China with a pension from Louis XVI. The work draws its sources from the epistolary exchanges between Bertin, his two protégés and the missionaries of Peking.
A superb copy with the colored figures in a period binding, made even more beautiful by Simier's additions.
It is very rare that the two supplement volumes published the following year, volumes 5 and 6, are present. The collection was initially planned in 4 volumes. When the supplements were published, only a part was printed with the fifth and sixth volumes, the rest was published under the title Coup d'oeil sur la Chine, tomes 1 & 2. Our copy bears the title of La Chine en miniature on its 6 volumes, and volume five, and sixth on its supplement volumes.
Some foxing. Boards very slightly rubbed.
(Cordier, Sinica, I, 45-46; Colas, 433)
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