Martino Martinii [Martini]. Regni Sinensis a Tartaris. Tyrannice evastati depopulatique concinna Enarratio, Authore Martino Martinii. Ultima hac Aeditione, Indice, tabulisque aenis illustrata. Amstelaedami [Amsterdam], Apud Aegidium Jansonium Valkenier, 1661. c. 13 x 8 cm. Blank, engraved title page, title page, 120 pages. Unnumbered folding Map of China, followed by 12 folding Plates, numbered 2 to 13. [*1-12, (2), A1 – E12, (2)]. Contemporary vellum with handwritten title on spine (faded). Red or red speckled edges (faded). Very good condition. Binding rubbed and bumped. Some mild staining. Top edge appears to be trimmed (see title page), not affecting text or Plates. Names of previous owners on front free end paper. Overall a very nice copy.

Martino Martini (1614 – 1661) was a Jesuit missionary born and raised in Trento (now in Italy, then a Prince-Bishopric of the Holy Roman Empire). As a cartographer and historian, he mainly worked on ancient Imperial China.
His De Bello Tartarico Historia (Antwerp 1654) is also important as Chinese history, for Martini himself had lived through the frightful occurrences which brought about the overthrow of the ancient Ming dynasty. The works have been repeatedly published and translated into different languages. There is also a later version, entitled Regni Sinensis a Tartaris devastati enarratio (1661); compared to the original De Bello Tartarica Historia, it has some additions, such as an index.
Today’s scientists have shown increasing interest in the works of Martini. During an international convention organized in the city of Trento (his birthplace), a member of the Chinese academy of Social Sciences, Prof. Ma Yong said: “Martini was the first to study the history and geography of China with rigorous scientific objectivity; the extent of his knowledge of the Chinese culture, the accuracy of his investigations, the depth of his understanding of things Chinese are examples for the modern sinologists”. Ferdinand von Richthofen calls Martini “the leading geographer of the Chinese mission, one who was unexcelled and hardly equalled, during the XVIII century … There was no other missionary, either before or after, who made such diligent use of his time in acquiring information about the country”.

• Keywords: Classical & Old Literature · Ethnography · Fine Bindings & Editions · History · History & Culture · Middle East & Asia · World Travel
• Language: Latin
• Inventory Number: 104372AB

Our price: EUR 950,--