China.- Staunton (Sir George) An Authentic Account of

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), second edition, engraved portrait frontispieces, both slightly offset onto titles, engraved plate and illustrations, Atlas vol. with 43 engraved plates and maps only (of 44, world map supplied in facsimile), some folding or double-page, occasional marginal damp-staining and spotting, browning, one plate with short tear to image caused by browning, abrasion mark to front free endpaper where label removed, text vol. in contemporary tree calf, rubbed, extremities worn, joints split, Atlas vol. in modern half-calf, 4to and folio, 1798.

⁂ The second edition of this important account of Britain's first embassy to China, sent in 1792 and headed by Lord Macartney. Staunton was the secretary to the embassy which travelled via Madeira, Tenerife, Brazil, Java and Sumatra - the account includes a lengthy description of Rio de Janeiro, as well as one of the most important insights into Chinese life at the time.