The first French edition of "the most influential description of China to appear during the first half of the 17th century" (Hanotiau). Ricci, an Italian Jesuit missionary, arrived in China in 1582. Adopting Chinese dress and learning the language, he succeeded where other missionaries had failed. He served in Nanchang, Nanking, and received permission to establish a missionary post in Beijing in 1610. During these years, he kept a journal which presented the history of Jesuit mission in China from its beginning in 1582 to 1610, the year of his death. This manuscript was translated from the Italian into Latin by Ricci's successor Trigault, who tried to elicit support for the mission in China. Trigault, however, changed many passages of Ricci's journal and augmented it with information based on several Portuguese reports. "The resulting volume contains not only a history of the Jesuit mission but also includes a wealth of information about China in the chapters describing Chinese geography, people, laws, government, religion, learning, commerce and the like" (Hanotiau).
Binding rubbed; folding plan with clean tear and slightly wrinkled; some occasional staining. Good copy. De Backer & Sommervogel VIII, col. 240; Cordier, Sinica, col. 810; Löwendahl 58; Lust 839; cf. Hanotiau 14 (2nd French edition).