*SOLD*
Pierre d'Incarville
1814/1815, Paris
 
A fascinating and beautiful work published during a time when many regions of Asia were beginning to become more tangibly accessible and the wild creations of the European imagination began meeting reality.
 
Extremely rare original wrappers.  First edition, 1814-15.  Two parts in one volume, 24 double-page hand colored engravings, general modest wear and spotting, splits along the spine(but signature threads holding the book together), with old university library label - Very Good.  Housed in custom case.  Eight copies found in institutions across the world and most are rebound.  Only one copy besides this one has appeared at auction since 1860 and it was rebound.
 
Pierre d'Incarville was a Jesuit missionary to Beijing and sent back numerous reports to academic societies.  As an amateur botanist, he also sent seeds and was the first European to provide detailed descriptions of kiwis.  The illustrations in this work were executed from d'Incarville's original drawings made during his stay in China.  The publisher Nepveu was also the Parisian publisher of Jean-Baptiste Joseph Breton. Between 1811-1818, Breton published a series of travel books that were the precursors to modern travel guides and this work was made in that spirit(China on Paper/Reed).