Staunton, George
An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China
Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000
Auction: 18 June 2025 from 10:00 BST
Description
London: by W. Bulmer and Co. for G. Nicol, 1797. First edition, 2 text volumes, 4to (27.9 x 21.8cm), and plate volume, folio (53.4 x 40.5cm), text volumes [5] iv-xxxiv 518, xx 626 pp., in contemporary tree calf, rebacked, marbled endpapers and edges, engraved portrait frontispieces, wood-engraved tailpieces in text, engraved botanical plate, plate volume in contemporary half sheep, with 44 engraved plates, maps and charts (several folding). Text volumes: volume 1 title-page creased, tears to frontispiece tissue-guard. Plate volume: plate 1 (general chart) with closed tear to one intersection between folds, 4 with one longitudinal crease where incorrectly folded, 5 and 21 closely trimmed at head and foot cropping frame, 11 closely trimmed shaving frame at head and platemark at foot, 20 with repaired closed tear, 42-4 damp-stained to top edge, 44 spotted and browned, a few other blemishes and marks [Cordier Sinica 2381-3] (3)
Footnote
A good, complete copy of the principal eyewitness English-language account of China in the 18th century. 'In 1792 Staunton was appointed principal secretary to Lord Macartney's embassy to China (and provisionally minister-plenipotentiary in the event of his death). The embassy sought to improve commercial relations with China, through Canton (Guangzhou), and to establish regular diplomatic relations between the two countries. Though Macartney and Staunton had an audience with the emperor their proposals were rebuffed. Macartney kept a detailed journal of his embassy, while in 1797 Staunton published his own, well-known account of this unsuccessful mission, which was later translated into French and German' (ODNB).