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VOYAGES & TRAVEL CATALOGUE 1485 MAGGS BROS. LTD. C atalogue 1485 is a selection of fi fty or so travel items to celebrate the fi rm’s moving into its new premises at 48 Bedford Square. In recent times we have structured travel catalogues by region, but here we hark back to some of the early, great Maggs catalogues and have ordered the items chronologically. We have tried to represent each area of the globe, from the discoveries in both poles, the Far East, the Middle East, the Pacifi c and the Americas. Among the highlights, are the two early manuscript leaves Cover image: item 25; Company School documenting Marco Polo’s travels to China and, particularly, Tibet. Th ere is a stunning mid-eighteenth MAGGS BROS. LTD. 48 Bedford Square London WC1B 3DR century view of Rio de Janeiro by the Baron de Breteuil, Telephone: ++ 44 (0)20 7493 7160 a signifi cant album of Indian watercolours executed by Facsimile: ++ 44 (0)20 7499 2007 Company School artists, and a vast trove of manuscript Email: [email protected] and photographic material assembled by Charles Tennant for his landmark work on Ceylon. Th e Arctic is represented by the likes of Arthur Dobbs and John Rae while the Antarctic includes a rare copy of James Weddell’s 1826 Observations… and two of Herbert Ponting’s beautiful photographs. We look forward to welcoming you to the new shop as we commence the next phase of our history. © Maggs Bros. Ltd. 2017 Design by Radius Graphics Printed and Bound by The Gomer Press, Ceredigion 1 An Original 14th Century Manuscript of an Important Section of Marco Polo’s Travels POLO (Marco). [Two original 14th century manuscript leaves, on vellum, containing the text of seven chapters of Marco Polo’s landmark description of his travels to Asia, including his description of Tibet]. Two folio vellum leaves (approx. 340 by 240mm), a total of four pages. Each page with manuscript text in two columns, each column containing fi fty-two lines of text in a Franco-Italic script in a neat Gothic hand. With six decorated two-colour initials (one for the fi rst letter of each chapter start), each more than three lines in height. Glue residue on the recto of both leaves, a remnant of their previous use as pastedowns in another volume, with resulting abrasions in a few places. Old stab holes in left edge of both leaves. Worming in the margins, tears and stains in the edges of both leaves. Burn holes and worming affecting about seventy-fi ve total words of text. In a folding morocco clamshell box, spine gilt. [Northern Italy, ca. 1350]. £200,000 A truly remarkable and important survival, these two manuscript leaves contain the text of seven chapters of one of the most signifi cant and resonant travel accounts in the history of human endeavour, the journey of Marco Polo across Asia in the late 13th century. Two of the chapters contain Polo’s account of Tibet, the fi rst description of that region by a European. Contemporary scholars maintain that Polo’s account was fi rst written in a popular literary language of the day, called Franco-Italic. The present redac- tion of the travels of Marco Polo, written circa 1350 and within a generation of Polo’s death, is in the same Franco-Italic script. It therefore presents the earliest and most accurate text of Polo’s travels, and provides important information and signifi cant evidence of how this now-legendary travel account was transmitted and read a century before the invention of the printing press. Since it can be argued that Marco Polo’s MAGGS 3 most important contribution to the history of discovery was so much in his that “most scholars believe that travels through Asia but by relating his knowledge of Asia to Europe, these it was written either in French or manuscript leaves are of the highest signifi cance. in a variant of French, an artifi - Marco Polo (1254-1324) was born into a prominent Venetian trad- cial literary language popular in ing family. In 1271 he departed with his father and uncle toward the East, Italy at the time, called Franco- travelling through Syria, Jerusalem, Turkey, Persia, and India, to China Italian” (p. 46). This “fi rst edi- and the court of Kublai Khan. Marco Polo became a favourite of the Khan tion” is referred to by Larner and travelled throughout China over the next fi fteen years as an emissary and others as the “F” text. An of the Mongol emperor. Polo returned to Venice in 1295, only to be briefl y early 14th century version of imprisoned in Genoa a few years later. During this imprisonment, in 1298, this “F” text is held by the Bib- he dictated his adventures to Rusticiano (also called Rustichello) of Pisa, liotheque Nationale in France and the text became known as IL MILIONE. The original text was written (BNF ms. fr. 1116, also known in Franco-Italic, and was quickly translated into Latin and other languages as the “Geographic Text”), and by court clerks. The fi rst printed edition was made in Nuremberg in 1477, it is believed that most redac- followed by a Latin translation (Christopher Columbus’s had a copy of this tions of this Franco-Italic text edition in his library). come from this copy. The most These two vellum leaves were discovered as pastedowns in an unrelated recent published edition of the work, the identity of which is not known to us. The recto of the fi rst leaf “F” text is that edited by Gabri- contains the concluding nine lines (about half the text) of chapter 112 (as ella Ronchi, published in 1982. designated in the Ronchi edition; designated chapter XLII of Book II by The present manuscript leaves Yule) of IL MILIONE, and the two leaves contain the entireties of Ronchi’s of Polo’s text correspond, with chapters 113 to 117 (Yule’s chapters XLIII to XLVII in Book II). The verso some very minor variations, to of the fi nal leaf contains the fi rst twenty-one lines of Ronchi’s chapter 118 the text as reproduced by Ron- (chapter XLVIII in Book II of Yule), about one quarter of the text. In these chi, and therefore represent Polo’s manuscript as it was transmitted in its chapters, Polo describes his travels through the province of Cuncun (Han- earliest form. chung), Acbalec Manzi (the Han River valley and north Sichuan), the city These two manuscript leaves of Marco Polo’s IL MILIONE have been of Sindafu, Caindu, and Carajan. He discusses the nature, qualities, and examined by three eminent palaeographers, including Albert Derolez, formerly topography of the land through which he travelled, the people he encoun- Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books at the Library of the State University tered, and their customs, habits, and manners, as well as their methods of of Ghent; Paul Saenger, Curator of Rare Books at the Newberry Library commerce, religion, courtship, and government. in Chicago; and Consuelo Dutschke, Curator of Medieval Manuscripts at Most importantly, two of the chapters included in these manuscript Columbia University Library. All three agree that the manuscript was created leaves give Polo’s description of Tibet, the fi rst description of the region by in Italy circa 1350, based on the script and the decoration of the initials. a European. Polo discusses the large cane plants found in Tibet, and the These manuscript leaves, written within a generation of Marco Polo’s death residents’ habit of burning the plants, which make a very loud sound when and containing the text that most closely corresponds to the now-lost origi- burned, to keep wild animals away. He then goes on to describe the mating nal manuscript, represent the earliest and most accurate form of one of the and marriage rituals of the Tibetans, including the male preference for expe- most important and celebrated travel accounts in human history. A treasure. rienced, non-virginal women as their mates. Polo also relates that gold dust LARNER, John; Marco Polo and the Discovery of the World (New Haven, 2001), is found in great abundance in the rivers and lakes of Tibet, that cinnamon Introduction, Appendix I, and pp.46-132; YULE, Henry, ed. (revised by Henri Cordier), and other spices grow there in plenty, and that the Tibetans covet coral, The Book of Ser Marco Polo (London, 1921), Vol. I, pp.80-104 and Vol. II, Appendix F. which is hung around the necks of the women and of their religious idols. RONCHI, Gabriella, ed.; Milione, Le Divisament dou Monde (Milan, 1982), pp.458-70. John Larner notes that the original manuscript of Polo’s adventures as Howgego I, P124-P126. narrated by Polo himself to Rusticiano of Pisa has not survived, but writes MAGGS 5 2 Cortes’ Second Letter. John Murray’s Copy with his Bookplate Presented to him by Martius MARTYR (Peter) & CORTES (Hernando). Praeclara Ferdinadi Cortesii de nova Maris Oceani Hyspania Narratio… [With:] De Rebus, et Insulis Noviter Repertis. Full-page armorial to verso of title without the folding plan of Mexico City (supplied in facsimile) with 4 initial letters & one tail- piece. 4to. Contemporary blind stamped calf over oak boards, with the remains of clasps, lower board very slightly defective at corner, but a lovely copy overall in its fi rst binding, with some unobtrusive light worming. [4], 49, [1], 12 ll. [Nuremberg, Fridericus Peypus, 1524]. £30,000 The fi rst Latin edition of Cortés’ second letter, after its original publication in Seville in 1522. The work was translated by Petrus Savorgnanus. This copy does not bear the portrait of Pope Clement VII on the verso of the fourth preliminary leaf which is not found with all copies. Cortés’ second letter, dated Oct. 30, 1520, provides a vivid account of the people he encountered and fought en route to Tenochtitlan (Mexico), painting a picture of an impressive empire centred around a great city. He relates his scrape with rival Velazquez and gives a wonderful description of the buildings, institutions, and court at Tenochtitlan. It is here that Cortés provides a defi nitive name for the country, calling it “New Spain of the Ocean Sea”. This letter is also important for referring to Cortés’ “lost” fi rst letter, supposedly composed at Vera Cruz on July 10, 1521. Whether that letter was actually lost or sup- pressed by the Council of the Indies is unknown, but there is little doubt it once existed. As usual, the second letter is here bound with Peter Martyr’s De Rebus, et Insulis Noviter Repertis, which provides an account of the recently discovered West Indies and their inhabitants. It is often considered Provenance: Iohan Alberecht Von und Zu Haimhausen c. 1660, engraved a substitute for the lost fi rst Cortés letter. One of the most important early armorial bookplate; Carl Friedrich Philipp Von Martius, signature, John descriptions of Mexico, and a key factor in maintaining Spain’s interest in Murray 1833 pencil note declares “Letters of Cortez given me by Dr Martius the New World. May 1833”, pictorial bookplate, partly printed in gold. European Americana, 524/5; Sabin, 16947; Harisse, 125. Medina (BHA) 70; Church, 53. MAGGS 7 3 Early English Colony in South America HARCOURT (Robert). The Relation of a Voyage to Guiana. Describing the Climate, Situation, Fertilitie, & Commodities of that Country. Together with the Manner and Customes of the people… now newly reviewed & enlarged, by addition of some necessary notes, for the more ample explaining of some things mentioned in the said Relation: Together, with a larger declaration of the famous River of the Amazones, and the Country therabout. Gathered from the modern experience of our Country-men. The Patent for the Plantation of which Country His majesty hath lately Granted to a Corporation. Second edition. Small 4to. Very attractive pale green morocco of c.1820. with glazed green paper pastedowns. gilt, a.e.g. xvi, 84pp. London, Edwrd. Allde, 1626. £15,000 Although, there were two editions of this tract, both equally rare, events in the proto-colony had moved somewhat since the publication of the fi rst edition (1613) and Harcourt in this second edition is clearly attempting to keep his fl edgling outpost in the public eye and to consolidate his interests there. In the preface, he asks the King to combine his charter with that granted to Roger North’s Company. He succeeded in this as the combined charter was issued in 1627. Harcourt, with his brother, Michael, had arrived with a party of 60 set- tlers in 1609; they set up headquarters at the mouth of the river Wiapoco, and during subsequent exploration Robert Harcourt sailed 150 miles up the Amazon. He and his bother returned to England but the settlers remained. Robert returned to Guiana in 1629, dying there in 1631, the colony had disappeared, and it was not until the 1650s that a permanent English foot- hold was established in the north of South America. STC 12755; Alden-Landis 626/62; Sabin 30297. MAGGS 9 4 From the Imperial Workshop GO-MIZUNOO (Emperor of Japan). Hoke-kyo [Lotus Sutra], chapter 23. “Myoho Rengekyo Yakuo Bosatsu Honji” [The Act of the Medicine Bodhisattva as revealed in the Lotus Sutra]. Highly signifi cant manuscript scroll written in gold ink on indigo- dyed paper, text in seventeen characters per line, arranged in columns separated by triple gold lines. Top and bottom margin decorated in gold and silver with scattered gold leaves, the reverse side decorated entirely in gold and silver with painted fl oral designs. Measuring 4200 by 276mm. Kansubon. Frontispiece household there is some argument over who was ultimately responsible for illustration measuring 285 by 276mm in ink, colour, and gold on this commission. Various arguments speak for either Go-Mizunoo or his light purple paper. Original brocade cover with woven title entitled daughter but it is reasonable to assume that they would have consulted each ‘Yakuo-bon’. Central roller (jiku) and stave (hasso) with original other before commencing this task. metalwork applications, the former bearing the Tokugawa-mon Our scroll conforms in size and design to a copy of chapter eight held (Tokugawa family crest) on both ends, the latter with the original in the British Library. The metal applications as well as the design of the silk cord attached to a fl oral bronze piece in the middle. Occasional brocade cover and indeed the silk cord are identical. The style of the frontis- light rubbing but overall in very good condition. N.p., n.d., [but piece painting also conforms to our scroll, which represents conclusive proof Kyoto, 1636]. £185,000 that our copy dates from the same year 1636. To celebrate the twenty-fi rst anniversary of the death of the Shogun Ieyasu the Shogunate undertook This lavishly decorated manuscript of the twenty-third chapter of the ‘Lotus extensive renovations of the Nikko Toshogu shrine - where Ieyasu was in Sutra’ originally formed part of a set of twenty-eight scrolls commissioned fact enshrined as a God - and these were completed in 1636. Following by the retired Japanese Emperor, Go-Mizunoo (1596-1680) - or possibly his Buddhist custom the Imperial household was required to pay respects on daughter, the Empress Meisho - to commemorate the twenty-fi rst anniver- certain dates, namely the fi rst (1617), seventh (1622), thirteenth (1628), sary (niju-ichi shinki [this term literally means ‘remembering a God’]) of the seventeenth (1632), and the twenty-fi rst (1636) year after his death, and on death of the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542-1616). In 1620 the Emperor each occasion gifts were presented. To the best of our knowledge the 21st Go-Mizunoo had been forced to marry Kazuko (1607-1678), the second anniversary of 1636 was the fi rst time that a set of the Lotus Sutra was pre- daughter of the Shogun Tokugawa Hidetada (1579-1632). When Emperor sented to the Nikko Toshogu and this became a tradition that was repeated abdicated in 1629, their daughter Okiko (1624-1696) ascended the throne on the 25th, 50th, 100th &150th anniversaries. The text of the Lotus Sutra as the Empress Meisho (reigned 1629-1643) - one of a very small number itself makes numerous references to the benefi ts that are bestowed on those of occasions when a female held the throne in Japan. While there is no who write, read, and receive the Lotus Sutra and such a gift may have been doubt that the scroll was commissioned by a central fi gure in the Imperial regarded as appropriate and useful in afterlife. MAGGS 11 Generally speaking, copies of the Lotus Sutras are unsigned and undated as well as signatures of ten scribes which had hitherto been hidden by the and traditionally the scroll in the British Library had been linked to a set roller. It seems entirely plausible that similar information may be included that was produced on the 50th anniversary. However, when their scroll in our copy of the scroll but we have not had the courage to check. (See: was stolen in 1986, the thief removed the central roller from the scroll and Yuying Brown: ‘Lost and Found - The revelation of the Lotus Sutra’ in ‘The when the BL recovered it from a London auction house in 1993 they were British Library OIOC Newsletter’ No. 52 Spring/Summer 1995, p. 13ff). amazed to fi nd that this act of barbarism had revealed a date of May 1636, MAGGS 13 5 Important Compilation of Dutch Voyages to the Pacifi c & East Indies [COMMELIN (Isaac) ed.] Begin Ende Voortgangh van de Vereenighde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie. Amsterdam. Third edition. 21 parts in 2 vols. Two extra engraved title-pages (one handcoloured), two large folding maps, plus 228 other maps & plates. Oblong 4to. Handsome contemporary calf, rebacked with some very minor restoration, some minor rubbing, engraved title & one plate in vol. I mounted, minor marginal losses & tears to four plates, with repairs to tears & folds of 3 plates, large ink-stain to one leaf of vol. I. [Amsterdam, 1646]. £75,000 The third and best edition of this important collection of voyages made on behalf of the East India Company. Increasingly scarce, this attractive set is in the original Dutch binding. The cornerstone of any research on early Dutch voyages, it contains a wealth of important material relating to the history of early Pacifi c exploration, as well as the development of the East Indies. The work includes important early voyages to the Philippines, China and Japan and, as many of the voy- ages came from the East, there is a good deal of information on the Straits of Magellan. Furthermore, it is noteworthy for including some of the only contemporary information on the voyages of the Duyfken. Skippered by Willem Janz, it made the fi rst authenticated European sighting of Australia in 1605. Its preface, by Commelin, contains a summary of Dutch voyages to the East Indies undertaken before 1631. Beautifully illustrated, it contains a wonderful assemblage of maps and plates of native peoples, hunting techniques (including for penguins and polar bears), Dutch camps and settlements, forts, South American ports, battle scenes, animals, trees, fruits, and other natural resources. A full summary of the voyages is available on request. Sabin, 14959, 14960; JCB III, II:339; Bell, C443; Tiele, 13-14pp. MAGGS 15 6 With the Routier for the East & West Indies DASSIE (F., Sieur). L’Architecture Navale, contenant la Manière de constuire les Navires, Galères & Chaloupes, & la Défi nition de plusieurs autres especes de Vaisseaux. Avec Les Tables des Longitude, Latitudes & Marées, Cours & distances des principaux Ports des quatre parties du Monde; une Description des Dangers, Edueils, & l’expliaction des Termes de la marine… [With] Le Routier des Indes Orientales et Occidentales: Traitant des Saisons propres à y faire Voyage: Une description des Anchrages, Profondeurs de plusieurs Havres & Ports d mer. Avec vingt-six differentes navigations. First edition. 2 vols. in 1. Eight engraved plates. 4to. Contemporary speckled calf, spine gilt, somewhat worn at extremities, head/tail caps chipped. [x], 5-8, 285, [3]; [ii], 209, [3], [1]errata.pp. Paris, Jean de la Caille, 1677. £6,500 A very good copy of one of the earliest works on naval architecture. Dassie was a master draughtsman in the naval guards of Toulon and this work has added importance as a document on Louis XIV’s navy. Furthermore, it was published at a time when “French ships were looked at as models for English builders to imitate” (Fincham). Very few chapters in the fi rst work are devoted to what we would nowadays call ‘naval architecture’. Instead the majority deal with shipboard operations such as victualling, navigation and naval tactics. Of additional interest is the accompanying Routier, which incorporates the East and West Indies, Virginia, Florida, the Cape of Good Hope, Mombasa, Malacca and Macau. Fincham, J; A History of Naval Architecture (London, 1851). MAGGS 17

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tion of the travels of Marco Polo, written circa and within a generation of Polo's including Chunar, Jaunpur, Lucknow and Agra and Chittagong.
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Most books are stored in the elastic cloud where traffic is expensive. For this reason, we have a limit on daily download.