Kublai Khan giving Nicolo and Marco Polo safe conduct to Peking, c.1410-12 (tempera on vellum)

Ms Fr 2810 f.3v, Kublai Khan giving Nicolo and Marco Polo safe conduct to Peking, with his golden seal to the Polos at Cambaluc in 1292, from 'Le Livre des Merveilles', c.1410-12 ; also known as Khan Bhalik or Daidu; collected record of travels in the Orient, including those of Marco Polo (1254-1324) Odorico de Pordone (c.1286-1331) Guillaume de Boldensele, the Armenian monk Hayton, Ricaldo da Monte di Croce (c.1243-1320) and the fictitious knight Sir John de Mandeville; Livre des Merveilles du Monde (c.1410-12); Probably born in Venice around 1254 CE, Marco Polo was raised by his aunt and uncle after his mother died. His father, Niccolo, was a Venetian merchant who left before Marco was born to trade in the Middle East. Niccolo and his brother Maffeo passed through much of Asia and met with Mongol emperor Kublai Khan who reportedly invited them to be ambassadors. In 1269, Niccolo and Maffeo returned to Venice, meeting Marco for the first time.