Maggs Bros.

This famous work was the “standard reference book on China for a century or more” (Boies Penrose). Although not quite the earliest book to be printed on China it was “the first detailed and systematic account” (Streit) and was “written in an entertaining style… [which] created a sensation in Europe” (Wagner). In fact the text became so popular that in all thirty-one editions were printed before the end of the sixteenth century. It was certainly the most influential source of its time on the countries of the East, relied on and read by most of well educated Europe. Gonzalez de Mendoza (1545-1618) first went to Mexico in 1560 when he was about fifteen, and probably entered the Augustin order in Mexico. A brief sojourn in Spain is recorded for 1573 but he soon returned to Mexico with the Commission that was sent to deliver gifts to the Chinese Emperor. This project was eventually cancelled after it was decided that the presents could not be made large enough to satisfy the cupidity of the Chinese. Mendoza compiled his work from the narratives of three expeditions. Firstly from the notes of Martin de Rada’s (or Harrada) mission undertaken in 1575 with Pedro Sarmiento, which, together with his own experiences, furnished the material for the Historia. An account of a third journey made in 1581, by Martin Ignacio de Loyola, makes up the core of the Itinererio and includes material on Japan, a first account of New Mexico and much else. Fr. Ignacio went to China via the Canaries, St. Domingo, Vera Cruz, across Mexico to Acapulco and thence across the Pacific to the Philippines and China. He records many curious details throughout the voyage and the text is so rich in new material that Ortelius declares in his atlas that he had gleaned more information concerning the New World from this Itinerary than from any other single book. Wagner: Spanish Southwest, 7g; Cordier 10; Streit IV, 1985.

Second work: The Portuguese Jesuit Semedo (1586-1658) reached Macao in 1610 and achieved fame by being the first European to inspect the Nestorian Stele in Xian (in 1625) which caused a sensation in Europe. The present work is divided into two parts, the first being a general description of China, its language, customs and culture (including the first mention of tea in a European work); the second is a history of the mission until the year 1630. Semedo naturally focuses on the role of the Portuguese from their acquisition of Macao during the late Ming dynasty as well as the role of the Jesuit order on gaining a foothold in China. The first edition was printed in Madrid in 1642. Streit V, 2227; Cordier 24.