Beschreibung:

Title: An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China Author: Staunton, George Leonard Place: [London] Publisher: [Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for G. Nicol] Date: [1798] Description: Atlas volume. With 44 copper-engraved plates and maps, most after William Alexander 7 of them fold-out or double-page, including the large general map. 22¼x16, original (?) calf-backed marbled boards, spine tooled in gilt, label. Sought-after atlas volume to Staunton's account of the expedition of the Earl Macartney to the imperial court in Peking, first official British embassy to China. Macartney traveled via Madeira, Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro, the Cape of Good Hope and Indonesia. He was accompanied by Staunton and a retinue which included Staunton's 11-year-old son, nominally the ambassador's page. The 11-year-old turned out to be only European member of the embassy able to speak Mandarin, and thus the only one able to converse with the Emperor. The marvelous plates including views of the natural wonders of China, man-made wonders such as the Great Wall, the city of Peking, charts and coastal views, and more. Lot Amendments Condition: Binding rubbbed with wear but solid, dampstain to top portion of both covers; earlier and latter plates with dampstain at top margin, affecting about half the plates and intruding into the images of about 7 of them, 2 of the folding plates with wear at the folds, some minor marginal spotting from mildew, but most of the plates are quite clean, the impressions excellent. Item number: 188855