Zatto, Antonio [China]Biblio.com
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1784137611Venice: Presso Antonio Zatta 1784. Large eighteenth century hand-colored map of China and Japan by Venetian cartographer Antonio Zatta. One page hand-colored with a fine botanical cartouche. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 19.5 inches by 23.5 inches. Venetian cartographer and publisher Antonio Zatta's major contribution to cartography was the Atlante Novissimo a four volume atlas of the world including detailed maps of China Italy North American and Eastern Europe. Presso Antonio Zatta unknown
1751177606Paris. 1751. Engraved map 48 x 52.2 cm; 51 x 67.6 cm sheet provinces highlighted with outline hand-colour elaborate title cartouche central fold small tear at the foot affecting the border old paper repair on the verso affecting the margin only pin-holes to the four marginal corners margins a little browned and dusty a handsome map in good condition. Fine large format map showing China Korea Taiwan and parts of Central Asia prepared for De Vaugondy's "Atlas Universel". The beautifully foliated cartouche features a duo of joyful Chinese musicians one dancing and a diminutive figure holding a parasol. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . unknown
1797035987London: G. Nicol 1797. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good . 11 1/8" Tall. Frontispieces Plates And Illustrations. Ii Xxxiv518; Ii Xx 626. The Two Complete Text Volumes In Full Size Text Blocks 10 5/8" Tall; The Plates Were Issued 1796 In A Separate Volume Not Present Here; But The Plate Of The Camellia Sesanqua Is Present Between Pp 466 And 467. Original Quarter Morocco Binding Five Bands Morocco Spine Labels Over Boards Covered With Marbled Paper Original Off-White Endpapers Preliminary And Final Blank In Each Volume. Bindings With Old Wear But Nicely Furbished Morocco Labels Clean With Brilliant Gilt A Little Loss Of Leather At Tops Of Spines And At Top Right Front Spine Edge Paper Frayed Along All Edges Of Boards Hinges Tight Contents Clean Just A Few Tiny Foxing Spots. Small Very Old Booksellers' Label Of The China Times Bookseller 94 Consular Road Tientsin. And Another From Sydney. Former Owner's Signature Dated 1894 Erased In Volume 1 Of George Ernest Morrison And A Few Marginalia Which Appear To Be His; George Ernest "G. E." Morrison 1862 - 1920 Also Known As Morrison Of Peking Or Chinese Morrison Was An Australian Adventurer Appointed In February 1897 As The Times Correspondent In Peking Despite His Lack Of Knowledge In The Chinese Language. He Traveled To Vladivostok And Reported To The Times That Russian Engineers Were Making Preliminary Surveys From Kirin Towards Port Arthur Then Sent A Telegram To Say That Russia Had Presented A Five-Day Ultimatum To China Demanding The Right To Construct A Railway To Port Arthur. This Was A Triumph For The Times And Its Correspondent But He Had Also Shown Prophetic Insight In Another Phrase Of His Dispatch When He Stated That "The Importance Of Japan In Relation To The Future Of Manchuria Cannot Be Disregarded". After A Visit To Siam And England Then To Australia 1899-1900 He Returned To Peking. When The Boxer Uprising Broke Out And During The Siege Of The Legations From June To August Morrison As An Acting-Lieutenant Showed Great Courage Always Ready To Volunteer For Every Service Of Danger. After A Siege Of 55 Days The Legations Were Relieved By A Multinational Force Which Then Ransacked Much Of The Palaces In Peking With Morrison Taking Part In The Looting. There Was Great Uncertainty Regarding The Future Of China In The Following Months And Through The Times Morrison Managed To Depict A Skewed Picture Before The British Public. While Russia And Japan United In Opposing Any Dismemberment Of China The Country Was Nevertheless Punished By The Imposition Of A Heavy Indemnity. In 1904 Morrison Became A Correspondent With The Japanese Army. He Was Present At The Entry Of The Japanese Into Port Arthur Early In 1905 And Represented The Times At The Usa Peace Conference. In 1907 He Crossed China From Peking To The French Border Of Tonkin And In 1910 Rode From Honan Across Asia To Russian Turkestan. From Andijan He Took A Train To St Petersburg And Then Traveled To London Arriving On 29 July 1910. A Great Chinese Physician Dr. Wu Lien-Teh Succeeded In Staying The Spread Of This Mortal Sickness Which Seemed To Threaten The Whole World. Morrison Published A Series Of Articles Advocating The Launching Of A Modern Scientific Public Health Service In China. When The Chinese Revolution Began In 1911 Morrison Took The Side Of The Revolutionaries. In August Morrison Resigned His Position On The Times To Become Political Adviser To The Chinese Government And Immediately Went To London To Assist In Floating A Chinese Loan Of £10 Million. In China During The Following Years He Had An Anxious Time Advising And Endeavoring To Deal With The Political Intrigues That Were Continually Going On. He Visited Australia Again In December 1917 And Returned To Peking In February 1918. He Represented China During The Peace Discussions At Versailles In 1919 But His Health Began To Give Way And He Retired To England Well Aware That He Had Only A Short Time To Live. He Died On 30 May 1920 . A Nice Historical Association. Later Ownership Signatures Of G B Wilson. <br/> <br/> G. Nicol hardcover
1797223222London.: Printed for John Stockdale Piccadilly. 1797. 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. 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. . Printed for John Stockdale, Piccadilly. hardcover
17751691811775. QIANLONG EMPEROR OF CHINA 1736-1796. Suite of four engravings depicting the conquests of the Qianlong Emperor. From the suite of sixteen engraved plates. Printed in Paris under the direction of Charles-Nicholas Cochin. Broadsheets image size: 515 x 890 mm. Preserved in the contemporary French green paper mounts with black ink outline borders. Professionally framed. With the original French printed labels describing the individual engravings affixed to back of frames. Paris 1769-1774. These four contemporary hand-coloured engravings represent individual scenes from the exceedingly rare series of sixteen engravings commissioned by the Qianlong Emperor to commemorate the victory of his 1755-1760 military campaigns against the Western Mongols. The four plates are: I. "General Fou Te Accepts the Surrender of the Ili" showing the triumphal march of the Emperor and his general to Beijing. Drawn by Sichelbart and engraved by B.L. Prévost in 1769 Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens 1; II. "The victory of Khorgos." in the Spring of 1758 against the forces of Amoursana. Drawn by J. D Attiret cut by C. N. Cochin and engraved by J. Ph. Le Bas in 1774. Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens 4; III. "The great victory of the Qurman." on February 3 1759 when the Chinese general Fou-te with only 600 soldiers defeated an army of 5000 Muslims. Drawn by Damasceno and engraved by A. de St. Aubin in 1770. Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens 8. IV. "The Emperor Gives a Victory Banquet to the Officers and Soldiers who have distinguished themselves in battle" at Tseu-kuang-ko the Imperial Palace Gardens Beijing on July 5 1754. Drawn by Castiglione and engraved by J. Ph. le Bas 1770 Pirazzoli-t'Serstevens 16. These large Chinese-French prints are among the most impressive works ever produced by the method of copper engraving. This is the first series of engraved plates to document the conquests of the Qianlong Emperor. They represented an amalgam of Chinese imagery Italian interpretation and Parisian copperplate engraving at its apogee. The drawings were supplied by Jesuit artists attached to the Emperor's court in Beijing. Upon completion they were shipped to France for engraving as the craft was unknown in China. After the Emperor was shown battle prints by the Augsburg artist Georg Philipp Rugendas 1666-1743 he wished to see his military conquests recorded in intaglio prints as well. He therefore ordered his Jesuit court painters Giuseppe Castiglione 1688-1766 called "Lang Shining" Jean Denis Attiret 1702-1768 "Wang Zhicheng" Ignaz Sichelbart 1708-1780 "Ai Qimeng" and Giovanni Damasceno Sallusti i.e. Joannes Damascenus a SS. Concepcione d. 1781 later bishop of Beijing called "An Deyi" to prepare sketches for the prints which they did in 1764 and 1765. Four of the drawings had been completed by the time of Castiglione's death when the decision was made to send the work to France via the ships of the Compagnie des Indes. According to the Emperor's decree no expense was to be spared. The first four drawings reached Paris in the autumn of 1766 and the remaining twelve in July 1767. The Marquis de Marigny director of the Academie Royale de Peinture et Sculpture decreed that the work should be carried out under the supervision of Charles-Nicholas Cochin 'fils' 1715-1790. As the French paper manufacturers did not have paper of the desired proportions the paper-merchant Prudhomme was ordered to make it to custom; the new size was called Grand Louvois. The copperplates were imported from England. Cochin chose Beauvais for the actual printing of the sheets on the grounds that he was "the only one who can be completely trusted both regarding his talents as well as his honesty which is well-known." The work proceeded slowly; standards of the highest quality were called for and some of the pictures especially the one by Sallusti needed careful editing. The original order was for 100 copies of each print but by 1768 this figure was increased to 200 copies so that at least 100 would survive the journey back to China ! -- however several authorities claim that many copies were lost at sea. In any event the final delivery was not shipped until 1775 occasioned in part by the difficulty the printers had producing a uniform series of prints from drawings by different artists. Three of the initial drawings were made by Attiret six by Damasceno one by Sichelbart and at least two by Castiglione; the remaining are unsigned but have been attributed to Castiglione by C. & M. Beurdeley and others. The engravers were L.J. Masquelier 1 J. Aliamet 2 J. Ph. Le Bas 5 A. St.-Aubin 2 F.D. Née 1 B.L. Prevost 2 P.P. Choffard 2 and N. de Launay 1. The Emperor's instructions stated that all the impressions were to be sent to him along with the original copper plates. However there is plentiful evidence that prints were pulled for the King of France and influential persons in Paris as well. Most of the surviving sets and individual prints appear to belong to this surreptitious group. The above series is not only a landmark in the history of Chinese and European art but also testifies to the direct artistic cooperation between China and Europe in the eighteenth century. It has been a common misconception that China was only interested in itself and detested the foreigners -- here the Emperor himself proved the contrary. VERY RARE IMPRESSIONS WITH CONTEMPORARY FRENCH HAND-COLOURING. The complete set of sixteen black and white engravings or a few individual prints from this set have come onto the market for sale only rarely. We can locate no other examples of any of the prints with contemporary colouring having been for sale or in public or private collections. PROVENANCE: Robert Barnwell Roosevelt 1829-1906 the uncle of Theodore Roosevelt and great-uncle of Eleanor Roosevelt. He was an early conservationist and worked for the protection of waterways. Roosevelt served in Congress and was later appointed to a diplomatic post in the Netherlands. He is credited with influencing his nephew Theodore Roosevelt to become a conservationist. With the ownership label "R.B. Roosevelt/ 26 East 20th Street/ New York" attached to the verso on one print. Cohen-De Ricci 1012-1013. Cordier Bibliotheca Sinica 641-642. Fünf Jahrhunderte Buchillustration 141. Brunet V 1178. P. Pelliot "Les conquêtes de l'empereur de la Chine" T'oung Pao ed. H. Cordier & P. Pelliot vol 20 1921 pp. 183-274. Michèle Pirazzoli t'Serstevens Gravures de conquêtes de l'Empereur de la Chine Kien-Long au Musée Guimet 1969. Hartmut Walravens "The Introduction of Copper-Engraving into China" 62nd IFLA General Conference August 25-31 1996. unknown
1784009888Paris: Chez De Bure Barrois Aîné et Barrois Jeune 1784. Book. Very Good. Morocco. 24mo - over 5" - 5¾" tall. Two volumes bound in full contemporary red morocco the back intricate floral gilt marbled end papers all edges gilt the armorial bookplates of De Verdon front paste downs. 5" x 3". ii 246 xxxix 230 pages. Very Good the boards soiled small hole front gutter Vol. I. The first two volumes only of this seven volume set generally considered the most interesting as they contain Noel's observations on the origin nature and effects of moral and political philosophy in China during the Qing Empire. Chez De Bure, Barrois Aîné et Barrois Jeune Hardcover
1736137249J. Wood c. 1736. Rare eighteenth century hand-colored map providing plans of Kanton Shang Chwen Shan and Ma-kau being a plate extracted from Du Halde's celebrated Description Geographique the most important cartographic record of the region of the eighteenth century. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 14 inches by 11.5 inches. Based on surveys conducted by French Jesuits at the behest of the Emperor Kang Hsiand Jean-Baptiste Du Halde's Description Geographique constitutes the first scientific mapping of China and remains the most important cartographic record of the region from the eighteenth century. Du Halde did not travel to China but collected seventeen Jesuit missionaries' reports and provided an encyclopedic survey of the history culture and society of China and "Chinese Tartary" that is Manchuria. Voltaire said of Du Halde's work: "Although it is developed out of Paris and he hath not known the Chinese he gave on the basis of the memoirs of his colleagues the widest and the best description the empire of China has had worldwide." J. Wood unknown
174012377China n.n. 1740-1760. Drie fraaie kopjes van Chinees porselein gedecoreerd in encre de Chine en goud. Met op de buitenwand van de kopjes een portret van Petrus Boudaan vaandels en de tekst 'Petrus Boudaan Ecclesiastes Amstelodamensis'. Langs de mondrand een fijn lijnornament in goud. Niet gemerkt. Portretten naar een gravure van Frederik Ottens. Enkele vergelijkbare exemplaren betreffende Gijsbertus Voetius in 1903 uit een legaat ontvangen zijn te vinden in Museum de Lakenhal te Leiden inventaris nr. 3645. Petrus Boudaan was de oudste zoon van Gualtherus Boudaan en Maria Coymans. Geboren in 1666 te Middelburg in het huis van zijn grootvader Pieter Boudaan. Hij studeerde te Franeker en werd in 1691 predikant te Rijnsburg twee jaar later te Arnhem en in 1710 te Amsterdam. Hij overleed 20 Mei 1734 en werd te Amsterdam in de Oude kerk begraven. H. 65 cm. Fragmentarische stukjes van de rand wat slijtage aan de vergulding één kopje met een haarlijn aan het oor. Literatuur: Jochem Kroes 'Chinese armorial porcelain for the Dutch market' p. 299. A set of three encore de Chine porcelain cups on a wooden stand decorated with a portrait of Petrus Boudaan 1666-1734 a protestant pastor from Amsterdam banners and the text 'Petrus Boudaan Ecclesiastes Amstelodamensis'. Portraits after an engraving by Frederik Ottens. Unmarked. China 1740-1760. H. 6.5 cm. Tiny chips to the rim some wear to the gilding one with hairline to the ear. Literature: Jochem Kroes 'Chinese armorial porcelain for the Dutch market' p. 299. China, n.n. unknown
1780180203Paris. circa1780. Engraved handcoloured map 31.3 x 20.5 cm; 37.8 x 25.5 cm sheet central fold slight toning one spot of discolouration to the upper border in very good crisp condition. Attractive map showing China the Korean peninsula the Philippines Japan and Chinese Tartary/Mongolia Vietnam and Central Asia. Also shows the wind direction vital to traders at the time. Rigobert Bonne 1727-1794 was an influential French cartographer of the late-eighteenth century succeeding Jacques Nicolas Bellin as Royal Hydrographer at the Depôt de la Marine in 1773. This map was prepared for Abbe Raynal’s famous "Atlas de Toutes Les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre." 1780. . unknown
177521532Paris 1775. Very good condition. Detailed copper engraved map of northeast Asia and Manchuria showing the island "Sagallan Anga Hata" or "Isle de Bouche Noire". From Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages".<br /> <br /> Bellin 1703 - 1772 one of the most noted French mapmakers of the 18th century was named the hydrographer chief cartographer to the French Navy and later the Official Hydrographer to the French King.<br /> <br /> 12 1/2 x 8 3/4" original center fold. Strong impression very clean. unknown
1797197707London. circa1797. Engraving 54.4 x 76 cms platemark; 57.5 x 63.5 cms sheet original fold; edgewear and toning pronounced at the fold light offsetting good dark impressions. Triptych of elegant engravings after the work of William Alexander published in George Staunton's official account of the 1st Earl Macartney's embassy to China 1792-1794; the flagship Hindostan is seen at anchorage in the lower engraving. . unknown
177521534Paris 1775. Very good condition. Detailed copper engraved map of northeast Asia and Siberia from Lake Baykal sic Partie du Siberie in the north Pays des Kalkas at the center as well as Desert de Sable and down to Chine and the Golphe de Lyau-tong. From Prevost's "L'Histoire Generale des Voyages".<br /> <br /> Bellin 1703 - 1772 one of the most noted French mapmakers of the 18th century was named the hydrographer chief cartographer to the French Navy and later the Official Hydrographer to the French King. <br /> <br /> 12 3/4 x 9 1/4" original center fold. Strong impression very clean. unknown
1719218140Shanghai.: 新學會社. Xin xue hui she. Minguo 171928. Black line illustrations 274pp various charts text in traditional Chinese characters 22 x 14.8cm. Heavily browned throughout closed tear neatly repaired title written in ink on lower edge. Wrappers worn small chips paper spine a sound copy. This volume offers practical information about everything concerning the farming of chickens from their shapes characters and species including from different countries to their physiology feed reproduction breeding and housing. Egg structure and incubation are also discussed among many other aspects of chicken farming. . 新學會社. [Xin xue hui she]. unknown
179121955Glasgow 1791. Very good condition. Tuesday June 7 to Tuesday June 14 1791 issue of the Scottish newspaper Vol. XIV No. 702; pp 185 - 192. <br /> <br /> 'Sunday's Post' concerning the troubled state of trade and relations with China and the Northwest Coast of America: "Our countrymen have found a very considerable loss from the trade between China and the North West Coast of America having been so abruptly stopped by the ill conduct of the Spaniards. The latter have since formed a most advantageous intercourse between the two countries which is likely to be carried on to a very great extent." <br /> <br /> The article goes on to note trouble in Hawaii: "A small ship had been taken possession of by the Sandwich Islanders at Owhyee and every person on board killed. Her name is unknown. Several ships are equipping in India for this trade to the North West coast of America". p189. Original folds a bit of minor splitting. A small rectangle of text 3 x 1 1/2" excised at the rear page. 9 1/2 x 11 1/2" unknown
1745199411London. 1745-1747. Copperplate engraving 18 x 29cms image; 25.5 x 38cms sheet; original folds margins age-toned but the image in very good condition with fine deep tone. A striking view of the important trade city of Canton one of the first treaty ports. The harbour is a riot of activity with ships from triple-decker ships of the line to small sampans and rowing boats. The image is after the work of Johan Nieuhof 1618-1672 whose 17th century views were amongst the most influential European images of China. Nieuhof a German-born diplomat and adventurer was travelling in the service of the Dutch East India Company VOC eager to establish trade relations with China. This engraving was published in "A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels" published in London by Ashley. . unknown
1745201080London.: Ashley. 1745-1747. Copperplate engraving 18.2 x 36.6cms image including caption; 25.6 x 41.8cms sheet original folds sheet a little age-toned faint offsetting the image in very good condition. A striking view of the Dutch Embassy approaching the Great Wall of China near Chogon Koton; the image is after the work of Johan Nieuhof 1618-1672 whose 17th century views were amongst the most influential European images of China. Nieuhof a German-born diplomat and adventurer was travelling in the service of the Dutch East India Company VOC eager to establish trade relations with China. This engraving was published in an 18th century compendium "A New General Collection of Voyages and Travels" published in London by Ashley. . Ashley. unknown
1796177641London. 1796. Large format engraving 23.9 x 35.9 cm; 35.9 x 46 cm sheet including caption and platemark spots of browning to the image affecting the sky and marginal foxing old paper abrasions to the verso the sheet a little creased and dusty but a strong dark impression in very good condition. Fine detailed engraving after a drawing by the artist William Alexander 1767-1816 of the sumptuous Hall of Audience to the Summer Palace prepared as plate 22 for the folio atlas to George Staunton's account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. Staunton's commentary noted its magnificence: "Its projecting roof was supported upon two rows of large wooden columns the shafts of which were painted red and varnished; and the capitals ornamented with various scrolls and devices in vivid colouring particularly with dragons.". The engraver William Lowry 1762- 1824 specialised in architectural engravings and was later a member of the Royal Society. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . unknown
1796177644London.: G. Nicol. April 121796. Large format engraving 29.9 x 45 cm; 37 x 50 cm sheet trimmed to the platemark spots of browning to the image mainly affecting the sky and marginal foxing corners a little toned old paper repair affecting the caption only no loss the sheet creased at the corners and a little dusty but a strong dark impression in very good condition. Intricate and wonderfully composed engraving after a drawing by the artist William Alexander 1767-1816 prepared for the folio atlas to George Staunton's account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. The engraver James Fittler 1758-1825 was appointed by George III to be his Marine Engraver. Despite the serried ranks of the Chinese noblemen attendants and the figure of the Emperor himself occupying almost the entire engraving it is the figure of Lord Macartney making an entrance stage right who steals the show. Fittler has amplified Macartney as "hero" with the dramatic use of tone: Lord Macartney is bathed in light a representative of the British Empire "on which the sun never sets". The page attending Macartney is the figure of George Staunton's son Thomas. <br>A dramatic evocation of the might of Empire. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . G. Nicol. unknown
1796177610London. 1796. Large format engraving 30.1 x 45.3 cm plus caption and margins a few spots of browning to the image two sealed edge tears one affecting the caption and foot of the image without loss the sheet a little creased and dusty but a strong dark impression in good condition. Beautifully composed engraving of a grim subject prepared as plate 31 for the folio atlas to George Staunton's account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. The figures in the foreground and the standing figures in the middle distance all have their backs turned away from the central drama: punishment of a criminal. The artist William Alexander 1767- 1816 has rendered fine architectural detail as well as capturing the natural world and background imagery: a water-carrier may be glimpsed and a laden vessel is anchored in the distant harbour. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . unknown
1796177640London. 1796. Large format engraving 30.8 x 45.3 cm plus caption and margins spots of browning to the image two sealed edge tears one affecting the caption and the upper edge of the image without loss two old paper repairs to the margin the sheet a little creased and dusty but a strong dark impression in good condition. Fine detailed engraving prepared as plate 41 for the folio atlas to George Staunton's account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. The artist William Alexander 1767- 1816 has rendered fine architectural detail as well as capturing the natural world and background imagery. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . unknown
1796177643London.: G. Nicol. April 121796. Large format engraving 23.7 x 35.4 cm; 35.5 x 45.4 cm sheet including caption and platemark spots of browning to the image affecting the sky and marginal foxing corners a little browned the sheet a little dusty but a strong dark impression in very good condition. Fine detailed engraving after a drawing by the artist William Alexander 1767-1816 prepared as plate 20 for the folio atlas to George Staunton's account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. <br> <br>From the Estate of the late collector and scholar Arthur Hacker. . G. Nicol. unknown
1796199463London.: G.Nicol. April 121796. Large format engraving 30.8 x 45.3 cms; 40.3 x 55.3 cms inc. caption and platemark margins dusty and spotted and residue from previous backing to the verso now attractively preserved loose in a window mount a strong dark impression in good condition. Detailed and elegant engraving prepared as plate 41 for the folio atlas to George Staunton's official account of the Macartney Embassy to China of 1793. The artist William Alexander 1767- 1816 has rendered fine architectural detail as well as capturing the natural world and background imagery. . G.Nicol. unknown
170120655London: Churchill 1701. Very good condition. An engraved frontispiece portrait of Johann Nieuhoff an official of the VOC and important writer and illustrator of contemporary China whose study of China was produced in 1665 by his brother Hendrick and titled 'An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the Grand Tartar Cham emperor of China: . at his imperial city of Peking wherein the cities towns villages ports rivers &c. in their passages from Canton to Peking are ingeniously described by John Nieuhoff; '. <br /> <br /> The work was essential to European understanding of China as it was the only reliable source along with the reports of the Jesuits of information and images available at the time. The work was translated into French German Latin and English and was the first to include 150 true to life illustrations drawn by Nieuhoff himself. In 1649 he joined the East India Company first in Batavia and then in China as steward at the embassy which aspired to gain trading rights with China's southern coast. His specific duties were to<br /> observe all "farms towns palaces rivers . and other buildings" that he might encounter drawing them "in straight form and figure" as well as remains of the historical victory of the "Tartars" Manchus that brought an end to the reign of the Ming dynasty. He remained in China until 1657. <br /> <br /> Nieuhoff wears an elaborate costume and holds a rolled sketch in his right hand; in the background is a sailing ship. 7 x 11 1/4" on paper 7 3/4 x 12" Churchill unknown
1796143663London: George Nicol 1796. Very Good. London George Nicol April 12th 1796. A large engraved map printed surface 640 × 451 mm sheet size 812 × 557 mm. Engraved by B. Baker. Horizontal centrefold crease as issued; occasional spots of foxing mainly in the margins; two small faint stains to the left-hand margin well clear of the printed surface; old guard on the verso with some light associated tanning on the recto about the fold; in excellent condition with wide margins. John Barrow later first Baronet was attached to the first British diplomatic mission to China led by George Macartney in 1792-94. The map is plate 9 from the atlas to the official account of the embassy George Staunton's 'An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China .'. <p>The journey shown here was from Chengde formerly Jehol to Beijing and then south to Hangzhou along the Grand Canal. While Macartney failed to secure any concessions from the Qianlong Emperor the expedition nevertheless collected important information about the geography culture population and politics of the Chinese Empire. George Nicol unknown
176614884Florence Italy: Giuseppe Vanni 1766. Print. Very good condition. Period hand-colored copper engraving from the Natural History of the Birds Treated Systematically and Adorned with Copperplate Engraving Illustrations in Miniature and Life-Size 1766-1777. <br /> <br /> The work carries some interesting historical importance according to Peter Dance: "The production of its five massive folio volumes must have been one of the most remarkable publishing ventures ever undertaken in Florence. Begun in 1767 and based on birds taken from the collection of Giovanni Gerini it was completed ten years later. It was larger better engraved and more vividly coloured than any previous work on birds but these are not its only claim to fame. The attitudes of the birds themselves give this book its unique character. Strutting parading posturing and occasionally flying.are birds whose real-life counterparts would surely disown them and not without reason for Manetti seems in these pictures to be depicting the human comedy the habits and mannerisms of contemporary Italian society. His book may still be rated among the very greatest bird books if only for its magnificent comicality" S. Peter Dance The Art of Natural History: Animal Illustrators and their Work. London 1978.<br /> <br /> Approx. 10 5/8 x 13 1/2" platemark on watermarked paper measuring 14 1/2 x 18". The original images were drawn by Lorenzo Lorenzi Violante Vanni or Manetti himself. HKD3680. Giuseppe Vanni unknown
