[MISSIONS]. Edifying and curious letters written from foreign missions. New edition. Paris, J. G. Mérigot le jeune, 1780-1783. 26 volumes in-12, marbled basane, spine decorated, red title-pieces and green tomaison, red edges (Period binding). Second edition, edited by Abbé de Querbeuf. Its systematic organisation of the letters makes it preferable to the original, which was published between 1702 and 1776. It includes 56 out-of-text figures, many of which are fold-out maps. This collection of letters sent by Jesuit missionaries from the East, America and Asia was of immense importance in opening up Europe to other cultures. In particular, the ten volumes on China created a veritable craze in the West, leading to the first European sinology and the fashion for "chinoiseries". An extraordinary collection of anthropological documents, "responsible before any other book or collection of voyages for the formation of the anthropological thought of the Enlightenment", writes Michèle Duchet in Anthropologie et histoire au siècle des Lumières. A pleasant copy despite a few wear defects, dull corners, split jaws. The headpieces are modern. Stamp of a Jesuit institution on the titles. Sabin, n°40698 - Howes, L-299 - Chadenat, n°6686.