Histoire universelle de la Chine, do Pe. Semedo S.J. (Lyon, 1667) SEMEDO, Pe. Álvaro, S.J.- HISTOIRE | VNIVERSELLE | DE LA CHINE, | Par le P. ALVAREZ SEMEDO, Portugais. | Auec l'Histoire de la Guerre des Tartares, contenant les reuo- | lutions arriuées en ce grand Royaume, depuis quarante ans: | Par le P. MARTIN MARTINI. | Traduites nouuellement en François.- A Lyon: Chez Hierosme Prost, M. DC. LXVII. [1667].- [12], 458, [1, 1 br.] p.; 23 cm.- E. Fr. Álvaro Semedo, Jesuit and scientist, spent more than 20 years in China, having carried out an in-depth study of local history and ethnography. Always showing the greatest admiration for Chinese institutions, he gives us a clear and concise account of the Chinese religious system, a description of the kingdom, an explanation of its language and alphabet and a set of ethnological and evangelical news. The work, whose original was lost, achieved great popularity when it was translated into several languages during the 17th and 18th centuries. Initially written in Portuguese, it was however published for the first time in Castilian by Manuel de Faria e Sousa (Madrid, 1642). Interestingly, the first Portuguese edition would only be published in 1731. Copy of the second French edition (the first date of 1645), with two extensive restorations on the first two leaves: in the half-title (only marginal) and on the title page, where it tangentially affects two letters of the word ROY, in the imprint, as well as one ownership manuscript, from the time. Circular stamp (from Polish institution) and initial (Dawnich?), on the title page. The copy, clean and slightly trimmed, was enriched with three large folding prints and five small prints that do not belong to the edition. Nineteenth century binding, entirely sheepskin, worn, With printed paper endpapers. Ex-libris in Cyrillic characters (?). Provenance: Roberto Gulbenkian Library. Auvermann, 812 (for the 1645 edition). Cordier, II, 24.