One of the earliest works on the natural history of Japan

Lot 28

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Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

By Doyle

Nov 25, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-11-25 10:00:00 2025-11-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Rare Books, Autographs & Maps https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/doyle/rare-books-autographs-maps-21321 Auction of Rare Books, Autographs & Maps on Tuesday, November 25, 2025 at 10am Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions We Invite You to Contact Us for a Complimentary Auction Evaluation of Your Collection Doyle info@doyle.com

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Lot Description

KAEMPFER, ENGELBERT Amoenitatum exoticarum politico-physico-medicarum fasciculi v, quibus continentur ... Rerum Persicarum & ulterioris Asiae. Lemgo: Heinrich Wilhelm Meyer, 1712. First edition of the only book published by Kaempfer during his lifetime. Five parts in one volume, period Dutch vellum gilt, tooled in blind, lettered in ink on spine; all edges sprinkled red. 8 3/4 x 6 7/8 inches (22.5 x 17.5 cm); [18], 912, [32] pp.; title in red and black, engraved frontispiece, sixteen engraved plates (four folding, twelve double-page), 63 engraved and woodcut plates, most plates signed by F.W. Brandshagen, 11 engraved and woodcut text illustrations, woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces, the engraved armorial dedication leaf present in Hunt's Copy 2. Minor soiling and light wear to binding, some minor toning to the text, some minimal tearing to the gutters of the folding plates, but this is an attractive copy overall, with wide margins. Armorial bookplate of Fullerton of Carstairs (probably William Fullerton; the Fullertons derived much of their fortune from the East India Company, and so this work would have had considerable interest to them). This was the first work on Asian natural history and medicine prepared by Kaempfer, a physician who travelled widely in the Middle and Far East, at one point voyaging as far afield as Japan, accompanying a Dutch East India Company mission as its physician. He was permitted by the Japanese authorities to travel without restriction, an unusual degree of freedom for a Westerner, and based on his observations, he discusses papermaking, the drinking of tea, and acupuncture, and gives much information on Japanese botany and medicine. The final section of the book categorizes approximately 500 Japanese plants. His later work The History of Japan was published after his death. Hunt Botanical Library II, 427; Nissen Botanische Buch Illustration pp 89-91.

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