‎CHARLES LE GOBIEN - Jean Baptiste DU HALDE ( editors ) - François-Xavier D'ENTRECOLLES - Ippolito DESIDERI :‎
‎Lettres edifiantes et curieuses ecrites des Missions Etrangeres par quelques Missionaires de la Compagnie de Jesus. Recueil XV.‎

‎"10. Paris, chez Nicolas Le Clerc, 1722, in-8°, 16,5 x 9.5 cm, xl pp + 418 pp + (10) nn pp (privilage and table) + 1 folding map of South India and Sri Lanka ( Ceylon), (THIS MAP IS IN FAC-SIMILE). contemporary full calf, raised back with gilt title , edges painted red, some small traces of use at binding, small old library stamp on title but still a good copy. This is ''Receuil XV'' (volume 15) of the first edition of the famous series of Jesuit letters, published in France from 1702 until 1776. These regular publications of letters by Jesuit missionaries, stationed all over the world represent one of the most important sources on the outside world in 18th century Western Europe. By these letters the European intellectuals discovered in a passionate way the customs and history of exotic kingdoms. Both Voltaire and Montesquieu were indebted to them for their ideas on China and the Far East. This issue contains a letter by the rev. Venance Bouchet on India, d'Entrecolles on China, Desideri on Tibet , Labbe on Tenerife and South-America ...(Letter by Desideri ; see John Lust '' Western Books on China'' item 195 - which is a similar publication, our letter not in Lust ).."‎

Reference : 30496

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