An Historical Account of the Embassy to the Emperor of China, Undertaken by Order of The King of Great Britain;
Including the Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, and Preceded by An Account of the Causes of The Embassy & Voyage to China. Abridged principally from the Papers of Earl Macartney as Compiled.
London. Printed for John Stockdale, Piccadilly. 1797. Stock ID #223222 Handsome copy of the abridged octavo edition of Lord Macartney's voyage and embassy to China (1792-4) by his secretary and "Minister Plenipotentiary in the absence of the Ambassador", George Staunton. Many of the illustrations are after drawings by William Alexander whose "views remained unrivalled until the era of photography" (Lowendahl). When referring to this item please quote stockid 223222.
2 folding maps + 30 copper plate engravings (including engraved title page), [6] + xv + 475pp + [2] Errata and Directions to the Binder, + [3] publisher's advertisements; recent half calf, early mottled-papered boards, spine gilt decorated and lettered to style, flecked fore edges, 22 x 13.5cm, boards a little rubbed, the text age-toned and the plates with marginal foxing, previous owner's bookplate to the front pastedown and the neat inscription of three others to the prelims, a very good copy of the octavo edition.
Price: $950.00 AU