First edition of a rare and famous account of the Japanese Empire during the years in which Japan slowly and cautiously opened up to the West. It pays particular attention to the relations between Japan and the European nations from the 15th century to the 1850s, when Japan concluded treaties with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, England and the United States.
It was written by the Dutch government physician at Japan, Jhr. Johan L.C. Pompe van Meerdervoort (1829-1908), who lived in Japan for more then five years. The beautiful colour plates show Japanese costumes. It concludes with the complete texts of the treaties concluded by Japan after Perry's expedition: with the United States of America (March 1854), with Great Britain (October 1854), and finally with the Kingdom of the Netherlands (November 1855 and August 1858). The work is dedicated to the Japanese Emperor Minamoto IJemotsi.
With stamps from the Imperial Austrian naval library and another naval library, spines with manuscript shelfmark-labels. First frontispiece detached and reattached, front flyleaves pasted down, some sewing supports of 2nd volume broken. Spines faded, corners bumped, otherwise in good condition. Cordier, Japonica, col. 588; Landwehr, Coloured Plates 395; Lipperheide 1563; Tiele, Bibl. 873.