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One of the first European plans of Peking

DE L'ISLE (or DELISLE), Joseph-Nicolas & PINGRÉ.
Description de la ville Peking, pour servir à l'intelligence du Plan de cette Ville, gravé par les soins de M. de l'Isle.

With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré.

With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré.

With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré.

With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré.

With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré.



Paris, 1765. 4to. Half brown morocco, spine gilt in compartments with title lettered in gold. With woodcut vignette on title, a large woodcut headpiece on first page, 6 folding plates of which the largest (485 x 250 mm) is a "plan de la ville tartare de Peking" and is signed Dheulland graveur du Roi, the first (235 x 195 mm) is a "plan general des deux villes qui composent Peking", the third (185 x 100 mm) a "plan du Ti-ouang-miao, the fourth (185 x 105 mm) a "plan du koue-tse-kien-ouen-miao", the fifth (185 x 150 mm) a "plan du Tien-Kan, ou temple dédié au souverain Seigneur du Ciel", and the sixth (160 x 120), "plan du Ti-Tan ou du Temple dédié au souverain Seigneur de la Terre", all five signed Lattré. (2), 44, (1) pp.

First edition of this description of Peking written for the comprehension of one of the first European maps of the city, by Joseph-Nicolas De l' Isle (or Delisle) (1688-1768) and Alexandre Guy Pingré (1711-1796). De l'Isle had been corresponding with Jesuits studying astronomy and geography in China for more than 30 years, collecting a large amount of memoirs. The Jesuit father Patouillet asked him to compose a map of Peking, based on these memoirs. Patrouillet's purpose was that the map would illustrate the description of Peking that he intended to publish in the 29th volume of the Lettres édifiantes. Unfortunately, Patouillet was unable to achieve this, but De L'Isle, helped by Pingré, continued and finished the description. Astronomical observations helped them to determine with enough precision the position of Peking. This description contains a historical part, a general description, a description of the Tartarian city, a description of the Chinese town and the suburbs, a more detailed description of certain places, a few remarks on the Chinese measure for distances the li, and a part on the latitude and longitude of Peking.
L'Isle was an astronomer, geographer of the Marine and professor at the 'Académie Royale des Sciences' of Saint-Petersbourg, where he arrived in 1726. He worked in Russia for 22 years. In the history of geography, De L'Isle is known for inventing a particular method to draw geographical maps. Under his direction, in 1737, the first scolar geographic atlas was published and the maps of Moscou and Saint-Petersbourg and the first map of Russia were composed. Pingré became in 1749 professor of astronomy in the newly-founded academy at Rouen. Already famous for detecting an error of four minutes in Lacaille's calculation of the lunar eclipse of 23 December, 1749, in 1753 he further distinguished himself by the observation of the transit of Mercury and was consequently appointed corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences.

Good copy.- (Some insignificant foxing, edges of some leaves slightly damaged).
Cordier, Sinica, 210-211; Morrison II, 67; Lust 187.

Related Subjects: Astronomy & Cosmography  Cartography  China  Geography 

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