The Officina Plantiniana in Antwerp as Provider of Books for Jesuits in Early Qing China (1616/1617)
- Book Title:
- Lux Librorum: Essays on Books and History for Chris Coppens
- Book Editor:
- Format:
- Book Chapter
- Year:
- 2018
- Publisher:
- Flanders Book Historical Society
- Place published:
- Mechelen
- Language:
- Abstract:
Longobardo's masterplan to establish a network of Western libraries throughout China was implemented during the 'tour' of Nicolas Trigault and Johann Terrentius through Europe, the latter being responsible for a more systematic book acquisition. One of the most spectacular acquisitions on which we are informed (besides the 'Bibliotheca Pontificia' donated by Pope Paul V, and much more) was the one in Dec. 1616 and Jan. 1617 in the Officina Plantiniana in Antwerp, when 331 books were bought at once. The acquisition list (with titles, and information on size and prices) is preserved, and published here, with identification of titles and editions. After having been transported through the ports of Dunkirk and Lisbon, they arrived in 1619 in Macau and in 1625 in Peking. Together with other books, they were the basis of the Jesuit scholarly and pastoral activities in Peking in the Late Ming and Early Qing. Still 51 of them are preserved in the so-called 'Beitang'-collection, now in the National Library of Peking (Baishi Qiao).
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- Page Range:
- 165-200
- ISBN:
- 9789082927603