17th Century study of international trade, from a Chinese perspective

ZHANG, Xie (1574-1640). Dong Xi Yang Kao [Study of the Eastern and Western Sea Areas]. China, Wanli period, 1618.
Very important 17th century description of Chinese trade with foreign countries, including a very early description of the Dutch East India Company (VOC) from a Chinese perspective. Zhang Xie’s work was posthumously completed by Wang Qizong, subprefectural magistrate of Zhangzhou. The work was considered to be of the utmost importance by Chinese officials who required intimate knowledge of the economic situation in foreign lands. The book consists of 12 juan (“scroll”/”fascicle”/”chapter”) and describes the flow of taxes and tributes from those areas associated with modern-day Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Of special interest is the description of Chinese contact with the Dutch and the Spanish in the region.
Three volumes, small folio (285 x 170 mm), being no. 4, 7 and 11 only. Woodcut printed texts. Chinese wrappers. Provenance: occasional underlining in red from a previous owner. (No title labels on the covers, wormholes at the four corners and upper margins of both covers and some pages, waterstains on the interior and exterior of the back cover, light browning, light staining to the upper and lower margins of the pages, minor chipping and tears to sides.)
Please note that this lot is subject to an import tariff. If the buyer instructs Christie’s to arrange shipping of the lot to a foreign address, the buyer will not be required to pay the import tariff. If the buyer instructs Christie’s to arrange shipping of the lot to a domestic address, if the buyer collects the property in person, or if the buyer arranges their own shipping (whether domestically or internationally), the buyer will be required to pay the import tariff. Please contact Post Sale Services on +1 212 636 2650 prior to bidding for more information.