L'ambassade de la Compagnie orientale des Provinces Unies vers l'empereur de la Chine [An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperor of China], by Johannes Nieuhof. Leiden: Jacob de Meurs, 1665. French. Two parts in one volume. French translation of Johannes Nieuhof's comprehensive work (translated by Jean Le Carpentier) describing the journey of a delegation of the Dutch East India Company to the Emperor of China. The first part deals with the delegation's journey across China and includes information about the Imperial court in Peking (today, Beijing), information about the Chinese Imperial dynasties and more. The second part contains a general description of the Chinese Empire – its history, various customs and rituals followed throughout the Empire, the government, religion, temples, rivers and mountains, fauna and flora. Illustrated with 37 engraved plates: engraved title page, portrait of the French statesman Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a map of China (folding) and 34 double-spread plates featuring mostly Chinese towns. Over 100 additional in-text engravings (illustrations of Chinese towns and villages, botanical and zoological illustrations, illustrations depicting professionals of various social classes, and more). Johannes Nieuhof (1618-1672), a Dutch traveler; published works about his travels in Brazil, China and India. Between 1655 to 1658 he was part of a delegation of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to the court of the Chinese Shunzhi Emperor in Peking, whose objective was to ensure the company's trade rights with the Chinese Empire in the Chinese southern coast. As a member of the delegation, Nieuhof documented the journey in great detail – in writing and by drawing. [7] ff., 116 pp. [2] ff. (paginated 116-177), 117-290 pp; [1] f., 134 pp. [1] f. + [37] plates, 37 cm. Good condition. Stains. Tears to edges of several leaves, some open (not affecting text); one tear repaired with tape. Worming to spine and some leaves (slightly affecting text and engravings). Leather-covered card binding, worn. Tears to edges of binding and spine (some loss).