Psalmanazar: An historical and geographical description of Formosa …

George Psalmanazar: An historical and geographical description of Formosa … Giving an account of the religion, customs, manners, &c., of the inhabitants. Together with a relation of what happen’d to the author in his travels; particularly his conferences with the Jesuits, and others, in several parts of Europe. Also the history and reasons of his conversion to Christianity, with his objections against it (in defence of paganism) and their answers .. (London, Printed for D. Brown 1704)

• Digitized:
  > Internet Archive (book contributor: Duke University Libraries, digitizing sponsor: Duke University Libraries)
  > Google Books (Original from University of Michigan)
  > HATHI Trust (Original from University of Michigan)
• Bibliographic references: BS 281 f., JL 235
• Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie

George Psalmanazar: An historical and geographical description of Formosa. : Giving an account of the religion, customs, manners, &c., of the inhabitants. Together with a relation of what happened to the author in his travels; particularly his conferences with the Jesuits, and others, in several parts of Europe. Also the history and reasons of his conversion to Christianity, with his objections against it (in defence of Paganism) and their answers. (London: Printed for M. Wotton, Abel. Roper and B. Lintott…; Fr. Coggan…, G. Strahan and W. Davis…1705)

• Digitized:
  > Internet Archive (contributing library: Boston Public Library, digitizing sponsor: Boston Public Library)
  > Internet Archive (contributing library: Boston Public Library, digitizing sponsor: Boston Public Library)
• Bibliographic reference: BS 282

French translation:
George Psalamanazar [Psalmanaazaar]: Description de Formosa en Asie: Du gouvernement, des Loix, des Moeurs & de la religion des habitans: dressée sur les Mémoires du Sieur George Psalmanaazaar … (Amsterdam: Roger 1705)

• Digitized:
  > Google Books (Original from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek)
  > Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
  > Google Books (Original from University of Michigan)
• Bibliographic reference: BS 282
• Entry in Wiener China-Bibliographie

German translation:
George Psalmanazar, Philipp G. Hübner [transl.]: Historische und Geographische Beschreibung der Insel Formosa, Nebst beygefügten Ursachen, warum sich derselbe zur Christl. Religion bekannt. Mit verschiedenen Kupfern  (Franckfurt und Leipzig: Verlegts Daniel Walder/Buchhändler in Augspurg, Coburg/druckts Moritz Hagen 1716)

• Digitized:
  > Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
  > Google Books (Original von Bayerische Staatsbibliothek)
• Bibliographic reference: BS 282

Dutch version:
Beschryvinge van het eyland Formosa in Asia […] uit de gedenkschriften van den hr. Georgius Psalmanaazaar […] t’zamengestelt […]. Door d’hr. N.F.D.B.R. (Amsterdam: Pieter van der Veer 1705)

• Digitized:
  > Google Books (Original from National Library of the Netherlands (original from the University of Amsterdam), digitized 25 May 2016)
  > Google Books (Original from National Library of the Netherlands, digitized 9 July 2013)
• Bibliographic reference: BS 282

George Psalmanazar (1679? – May 3, 1763) claimed to be the first Formosan to visit Europe. For years he convinced many people  in Britain, but was later revealed to be an impostor. In his later years, he became a theological essayist and wrote his memoirs, revealing more details his early life and the development of the impostures, but omitting his real name, which still remains unknown.

[George Psalmanazar]: Memoirs of **** commonly known by the Name of George Psalmanazar a reputed Native of Formosa. (Second edition: London: Davis 1765)

• Digitized:
  > Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
  > Google Books (Original from Bayerische Staatsbibliothek)
• Bibliographic reference: BS 282 f.

See: Michael Keevak:  The Pretended Asian: George Psalmanazar’s Eighteenth-Century Formosan Hoax (Detroit: Wayne State University Press 2004), Jack Lynch: ‚Forgery as Performance Art: The Strange Case of George Psalmanazar,‘ In: 1650–1850: Ideas, Aesthetics, and Inquiries in the Early Modern Era 11, (2005) : pp. 21–35.

Last update: October 4, 2016.