This is Dapper’s richly illustrated account of the second and third embassies to China by the Dutch East India Company. His book describes the Dutch expeditions to China – Admiral Balthasar Bort’s expedition along the Fujian coast in 1663 and 1664 and Pieter van Hoorn’s embassy to Beijing in 1666-1668 - and then proceeds to give a detailed background on the country, putting together information from the best sources available at the time, from Ricci and Martini, to Schall and the Spanish Jesuit Adriano de Las Cortes. It contains an extensive description of China, its government, religion, customs, art, science, natural history, etc. and brings together many important records of Dutch relations with China from 1662 to 1664 The work still represents an invaluable source for all aspects of 17th century Chinese life, offering a wealth of information and a rich iconography. Especially interesting are the large plates illustrating Chinese art. Engravings of Chinese cities, the Peking palaces, and so on, were taken from the drawings done by the artist in Van Hoorn’s delegation as well as other sources.
Dapper’s great compendium was published in the 1670s in Dutch, German, and English. The TBC volume is the original 1670 Dutch edition. [Dapper’s work was translated into English a year later by John Ogilby and publish in London as The Second & Third Embassie to Ye Empire of Taysing or China. Original prints from this 1671 work can be found decorating the walls of the TBC Library.]

Author:
Dapper, Olfert, 1639-1689
Olfert Dapper was a Dutch physician and indefatigable scholar and compiler of travel accounts. Though he apparently never left Amsterdam, Dapper devoted most of his life to geographical studies, and produced several finely illustrated volumes describing travels in Asia, Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Africa. He drew upon the most reliable eye-witness accounts as well his own extensive library of travel books. His works were authoritative and very popular. They are especially noteworthy for their excellent illustrations and maps.