China.- Staunton (Sir George) An Authentic Account of An Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China, 3 vol. including Atlas, first edition, text with 2 engraved portraits of the Emperor and the Earl of Macartney, engraved plate of Camellia and 25 engraved vignettes, portraits and plate a little foxed, occasional spotting and light browning, particularly to title & preliminaries of vol.2 and some signatures towards end, contemporary diced calf ruled and stamped in gilt and blind, rebacked preserving old spines, Atlas with 44 engraved maps, charts, plates and plans, 8 folding or double-page, some foxing, mostly marginal, double-page plate lightly stained where previously folded, contemporary half russia, rebacked preserving old spine ruled in gilt, all a little rubbed, [Cordier, Sinica, 2381-83], 4to & folio, W.Bulmer & Co. for G.Nicol, 1797.

⁂ The official account of Lord Macartney's voyage and embassy to the Qianlong emperor in 1792-94, the failure of which lead to the establishment of the British trading post at Hong Kong. It includes descriptions of the journey via Madeira, Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, Java and Sumatra, Chinese customs (including foot-binding) and details of Chinese trade with Europe. The fine plates by Alexander show views of the Great Wall, temples, barges, a military post and imperial procession, and there is also a detailed map of Macao.