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Long before TBC began its mission to educate the West about China, western countries first learned about China from early writings of Jesuit missionaries, merchants, and diplomats.

The TBC Library of Chinese Studies has obtained several original copies of these works in the collection: “How the West Learned of China”. This collection dates from 1588 until 1840 (with a few later exceptions).

For the majority of the works in the list, click on the title to view a photo, a description of the work, and a brief biography of the author. You can filter the list by clicking on title, author, or date.

Title Author's Name Year
Lettres Edifiantes et Curieuses, Ecrites des Missions Etrangeres, par quelques Missinnaires de la Compagnie de Jesus.Vol I & II [Second ed.,Original] 1717
Nouvelles Lettres Edifiantes Des Missions De La Chine Et Des Indes Orientales (Vol. II.) - 1818
Nouvelles Lettres Edifiantes Des Missions De La Chine Et Des Indes Orientales (Vol. III.) - 1818
Lettres Edifiantes Et Curieuses, Ecrites Des Missions Etrangeres, Nouvelle Edition, Ornee de Cinquante Belles Gravures, Volume XII - Chine 4 - 1819
Lettres Edifiantes Et Curieuses, Ecrites Des Missions Etrangeres, Nouvelle Edition, Ornee de Cinquante Belles Gravures, Volume XI - Chine 3 - 1819
Lettres Edifiantes Et Curieuses, Ecrites Des Missions Etrangeres, Nouvelle Edition, Ornee de Cinquante Belles Gravures, Volume X - Chine 2 - 1819
Lettres Edifiantes Et Curieuses, Ecrites Des Missions Etrangeres, Nouvelle Edition, Ornee de Cinquante Belles Gravures, Volume IX - Chine 1 - 1819
Annales de La Propagation de La Foi. Recueil Periodique, Des Lettres Des Eveques et Des Missionnaires Des Missions Des Deux Mondes. (Collection faisant suite aux Lettres Edifiantes) Vol. 10, ## 54 to 59 - 1837
Annales de La Propagation de La Foi. Recueil Periodique, Des Lettres Des Eveques et Des Missionnaires Des Missions Des Deux Mondes. (Collection faisant suite aux Lettres Edifiantes) Vol. 12, ## 68 to 70 - 1840
La Vie Du Pere Matthieu Ricci, De La Compagnie de Jesus le Pere L’Orleans de la mesme Compagnie 1693
China, in a Series of Views, Displaying the Scenery, Architecture, and Social Habits, of That Ancient Empire (Vol. I. II. III. IV.) Allom, Thomas & Wright, G. N. 1843
Account of a Voyage to India, China and &c. in His Majesty's Ship Caroline, Performed in the Years 1803-4-5, interspersed with Descriptive Sketches and Cursory Remarks An Officer of The Caroline 1806
Narrative of the British Embassy to China, in the Years 1792, 1793 and 1794; containing the Various Circumstances of the Embassy, with accounts of Customs and Manners of the Chinese; and a description of the Country, Towns, Cities, &c. &c, A Anderson, Aeneas 1795
Lettere del Tibet dell'Anno MDCXXVI, and Lettera della Cina dell'Anno MDCXXIV published together in Lettere annue del Tibet 1626, e della Cina 1624 Andrade, Antonio & Kirwitzer, Vaclav Pantaleon (Vinceslao Pantaleone) 1628
Voyage Around the World in the Years 1740-1744, A Anson, George & Walter, Richard 1748
Travels in China, containing Descriptions, Observations, and Comparisons, made and collected in the course of a short residence at the Imperial Palace of Yuen-Min-Yuen, and on a subsequent journey through the country, from Pekin to Canton Barrow, John 1805
Nouvel Atlas de la Chine, de la Tartarie Chinoise, et du Thibet D'Anville 1737
Gedenkwaerdig bedryf der Nederlandsche Oost-Indische Maetschappye op de Kuste en in het Keizerrijk van Tasing of Sina [Second & Third Embassies to the Empire of Taysing or China] Dapper, Olfert 1670
The Chinese Traveller: Containing a Geographical, Commercial, and Political History of China (Vol. I.) Du Halde, Le Compte, and other modern travellers 1775
The Chinese Traveller: Containing a Geographical, Commercial, and Political History of China (Vol. II.) Du Halde, Le Compte, and other modern travellers 1775

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