KÆMPFER (Engelbert). Histoire naturelle, civile, et ecclésiastique de l'Empire du Japon. La Haye, P. Gosse & J. Neaulme, 1729. 2 volumes in-folio, marbled calf, cold roulette, spine decorated, red edges (Binding of the period). First French edition of one of the rare early works devoted to Japanese civilisation. German traveller and physician Engelbert Kæmpfer (1651-1716) visited Persia and Japan, where he made interesting observations and brought back natural products. The manuscripts of this illustrious traveller remained unpublished until Sir Hans Sloane purchased them from his heirs and arranged for their translation and publication. The result was the first English edition, published in 1727, closely followed by this French translation by François Naudé, based on the English version by Jean-Gaspar Scheuchzer. The illustrations include an allegorical frontispiece, drawn and engraved by Jan Caspar Philips, and 45 folding plates, engraved in intaglio after drawings left by the author by G. van der Gucht, Guil. Hulett, G. King and C. Moore. These very interesting plates consist of maps and views of landscapes and buildings as well as various representations of Japanese culture, ranging from writing characters to the tea ceremony and acupuncture, as well as divinities, fabulous creatures and ritual processions. A precious copy by Buffon (1707-1788), bearing on the title his autograph signature dated 1751. The copy subsequently passed to the library of the eminent writer Honoré-Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791), deputy to the Estates-General and president of the Constituent Assembly (cat. 1791, no. 2587). From the Hans Fürstenberg library, with bookplate. Copy without the 2 pages of dedication from the bookseller to the Prince of Orange at the head of the first volume. Spine rebacked, linings and endpapers renewed, tear restored to plate XII, slight foxing. Cordier, Japonica, 416 - Brunet, III, 638 - Cox, I, 333 - Pagès, 390.