English Court Siam

IDES, E[vert] Ysbrants.. THREE YEARS TRAVELS FROM MOSCOW OVERLAND TO CHINA: Thro' Great Ustiga, Siriania,.
Everard E. Isbrant [1600-?], in 1692 was appointed the Czar of Moscovy's [Russian] Ambassador to China. This work covers his travels to China beginning in 1692, 1693, taking some two years and 10 months to complete, successfully ending in 1695 with his arrival at Peking. * WRITTEN IN THE OLD STYLE OF ENGLISH: SUBTITLE continued: "... and the Cusftoms of the Barbarous Inhabitants; with Reference to their Religion, Government, Marriages, daily Imployments [sic], Habits, Habitations, Diet, Death, Funerals &c. Written by his Excellency E. Ysbrants Ides, Ambaffador from the Czar of Mufcovy to the Emperor of China. Illuftrated with a large map of the countries, drawn by the Ambaffador upon his journey, and many curious cuts [= engravings]." * A second book is also added: "TO WHICH IS ANNEX'D AN ACCURATE DEFCRIPTION OF CHINA, DONE ORIGINALLY BY A CHINEFE AUTHOR: With Feveral Remarks' by Way of Commentary, Alluding to What our European Authors have Writ of that Country." * "Printed in Dutch by the direction of Burgomaster Witzen, formerly Ambassador in England; & now Faithfully done into English." * A most lovely and charming primary source, with 30 superb copper etched plates, 8 are folding, and a large very decor- ative engraved map, [top 1/3] a bit darkened, expertly men- ded, 68 x 51 cm. with elaborate cartouche, showing all of China, from Moscow East to the Pacific Ocean, The North and down South to India, Laos and the Southern provinces of China, including Formosa, Ryukyu, Corea, Japan both of which are shown as islands, and all that falls inside this great square. Such famous coastal cities as Canton, Fokien, Suchon and inland: Nanking, Peking and other major cities nicely shown. Mountains, rivers, provincial lines, deserts, lakes, inland seas, to the Meiterraneum Sea shown. Bound in the original brown gilt tooled full calf, paneled boards. * This is the First Edition in English translation. * Per Cox: p.330-1 [see note below]: "Ides, who was a Dane in the service of Peter the Great, set out from Moscow March 14th, 1692 . Traveling as a public character, he had the leisure to observe anythying of note...He composed his journal for the information and satisfaction of Peter the Great who was well pleased with the results and rewarded the author with the post of Privy Councilor. The Russian embassy had less trouble with the enormous self-esteem of the Chinese than many earlier and later embassies. Before the Tartars became masters of China, it was almost impossib- le for foreigners to find admittance to the Imperial court. Under the Emperor then ruling, Kanghi, ministers were courteously received and enabled to transact their business as at any other court. This accommodation was contrary to the temper & traditions of the old Chinese, who opposed it as much as they dared. Kang-hi was desirous of preventing Russian encroachments upon his territories and the Czar was anxious to establish a regular commerce with China. The exp- edition added considerable geographical knowledge to the little that was known about Northern Manchuria and China." * Chapters cover the journey from Moscow through Siberia and Tartar lands, with great accounts of the areas traversed, crossing of great rivers, with the entry to the border of China in Xixigar [Mongolia], Tartarian desert, with good description of Chinese buildings, Great Wall, music, diet, furniture, idols, transportation mode, their elaborate rece- ption at the Court of Peking with entertainment by the Emperor. Description of the fabulous palace, the foreign Jesuits, rare animal collection. * To which is added a "SHORT DESCRIPTION OF CHINA" covering the provinces of that great land: Peking & the Imperial Court and metropolis. With a brief essay on each of the provinces cited, with products and attributes: [sic] Xanthun, Xansi, Xiesi, Honan, Leaotung, Nanking, Chekiang, Kiangsi, Huquang, Suchuen, Queicheu and Junan, Quaoangsi, Quoangtung, Fokien: covers some five pages as an important province with much war and suffering, where the Emperor's forces drove out the Dutch from Formosa or Tajoan [sic for Taiwan]. With a very lovely description of that island and the Spanish intrusion there. Essay on the bordering countries & their distances from China. The Great Wall, rivers ships, lakes, bridges, sluces, Havens &c. Chinese faith and doctrine, morality, good breeding, trees and fruits. * With additional fascinating essay about the countries & Islands around China: Macao, Siam, Dutch East Indies, Corea, Japan, Liukiu [Riukiu/Okinawa], Cambodia, Cochin- China, Laos &c. With a major essay on early Fokien province, and Taiwan, with discussion of Ginseng and other medicinal plants. The second essay is a fascinating DESCRIPTION OF CHINA by a Chinese doctor, Dionysius Kao, who practiced in Siam and India, and was a Roman Catholic convert. * BIBLIOGRAPHY: E. Cox: A REFERENCE GULIDE TO THE LITERATURE OF TRAVEL ~~ p.330-331. * + Oriental Library: CATALOGUE OF THE ASIATIC LIBRARY OF DR. ~~ G.E. MORRISION, part I, p.372-3. + J. Lust: WESTERN BOOKS ON CHINA PUBLISHED UP TO 1850,#519. + Cox I p.330-1. + H. Cordier: BIBLIOTHECA SINCIA 2468. + Library of Congress holds one of this title. * A NOTE ON SCANS & CONDITION: Color scans can be sent by email, however, some of these scans may have be a bit discolored, due strictly to our scanner, and NOT to the paper or its color, all engravings are clean and bright. There is some minor restoration to a few maps, nothing major, else a nice complete copy. * SECOND COPY: We have another "old rebacked" copy of this book, so please inquire telling us which one you are interested in. We are happy to send exact scans of either copy. The second copy has lovely plates and no defects to them whatsoever, all clean and bright. As for the great and large folding map, it is exceptionally clean and bright. * Color scans can be sent by email. Images displayed may not be the actual copy in stock for sale at any given time; if you want to see the exact image of the book or edition in stock, please request this by email and an image will be returned to you by attachment. * * * BUY WITH * * * * SHIPPING: WE SHIP WORLD WIDE * * * * * The shipping costs displayed for our books on ZVAB are ONLY AN ESTIMATE !!! * ACTUAL costs are based book weight, destination and value. * We will inform you of shipping costs and options once you select the book. **FOREIGN: We usually ship by registered/insured airmail to customers abroad. **DOMESTIC: We ship to USA customers by UPS/FEDEX or U.S. MAIL, appropriate insurance/registry and signature required will appply. ***** Please inquire if you have any questions regarding shipping or payments .

London 1706, Freeman. Contemporary tooled calf, small 4to, 18 x 25 cm cm., 210p., engravings: title page and 30 plates, large folding engraved map and frontispiece or short title page. Q U I T E R A R E FIRST ENGLISH EDITION

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Geschichte und Politik.- Smithies, Miachael (Editor) u.a. The Discourses at Versailles of the first Siamese Ambassadors to France 1686-7 - Together with the list of their presents to the court - In the original French together with a translation into English, Bangkok, Siam Society, 1986

. 8°. 96 p. m. Titelbild u. einigen Abb. + Eine Bildtafel. OKLeder mit Goldprägung und OUmschlag. First edition. In englischer Sprache - in English. Gutes Exemplar, sauber

[SW: Geschichte.-]

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Leonowens, Anna Harriette.: The English Governess At The Siamese Court: Recollections of Six Years in the Royal Palace At Bangkok. Introduction by Robin Duke. London: Folio Society, 1980.
Very good. With slipcase (slightly used).

Reprint. 234 p. Cloth.

[SW: Siam Thailand]

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Anna Harriette Leonowens: The English Governess at the Siamese Court: Being Recoliections of Six Years in the Royal Palace at Bangkok. Oxford ,1988 ,New York ISBN: 0195888979

This book is an engaging as a story of adventure, fascinating as a picture of nineteenth-century Bangkok, and intriguing as an account of life inside King Mongkut's palace, vividly recounting the experiences of an Anna Harriette Leonowens as governess for the sixty plus children of the king. It is the true story that inspired Anna and the King of Siam. Slightly shopworn. Used Book; Paperback

[SW: Modern History, Cultural Studies, Literature, Southeastasia]

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