China Series Views Displaying Scenery by Allom Thomas Wright Rev G N (5 results)

[Travel] Four volumes bound as two. Quarto (28 x 22cm), pp.[2] 96; 72, pp.68; 56. Illustrated with 124 black and white engraved plates, as called for. All four title pages present. Contemporary half navy blue calf, gilt, over marbled paper-covered sides, marbled edges and endpapers. Text leaves clean, plates browned to margins as expected, covers rubbed with some wear to joints and headbands. Very good indeed, attractively bound. The standard steel-pate book on China, written by the Irish topographer and clergyman George Newenham Wright, and illustrated from drawings made in situ by the English artist and architect Thomas Allom, a founding member of what became the Royal Institute of British Architects and whose projects included The Houses of Parliament.

Four volumes 28.3 x 22 cms, 4 engraved vignette title-pages and 124 black and white engravings after drawings by Thomas Allom, 72 + 96 pages; 72 pages; 68 pages; 56 pages; contemporary half morocco over pebbled cloth boards, spines gilt lettered with raised bands and decorated in compartments, all edges gilt, morocco a trifle rubbed and scant foxing affecting one of the title pages and a handful of plates, but a very good remarkably clean set, the fine engravings bright with great depth of tone. A very handsome example of an influential work. The fine illustrations are by Thomas Allom (1804-1872), who at the time of this publication was a well-known and highly regarded topographical artist, having produced a series of English views as well as illustrating celebrated works on Turkey and the Middle East. The author of the text (who gets second billing) the Rev'd George Newenham Wright (c. 1794?1877) was an Irish writer and Anglican clergyman who had never travelled to China and despite Allom's travels to Turkey and the Middle East there is no convincing evidence to suggest that he ever made it there either. Wright's text was drawn from his research performed at the British Library, and Allom's illustrations drew on earlier works. The majority of the views show southern China, including images of Hong Kong, Canton and Macao, reflecting the limited British access to China at the time. However, there are also some images and descriptions of Peking, Nanking and Jehol visited by the Macartney Embassy almost fifty years before. Very popular at the time of publication, "China Illustrated" answered a European demand for news of the "exotic Orient" and it gives keen insight into British attitudes towards China in the early 19th Century. It ran to a number of editions including a German edition in 12 parts with smaller plates which appeared shortly after the English edition. Cordier 80-81; Lust 363; Lowendahl 986.

4 volumes bound in 2. Large 4to. (28 x 21 cm). Contemporary full pebble-grained red morocco, sides richly gilt with foliate panel design, spines in six compartments with raised bands and gilt-decorated compartments, gilt inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In total 128 steel-engraved plates including 4 engraved vignette title-pages, all with tissue guards. I: pp. 96, with additional engraved title ('China, its scenery, architecture, social habits, &c. illustrated') and 31 plates; II: pp. 72, with additional engraved title and 31 plates; III: pp. 68, with additional engraved title and 31 plates; IV: pp. 56, with additional engraved title and 31 plates. Light foxing to some of the plates, a little toned, some light shelfwear, overall a very good copy in particularly handsome red morocco bindings. Thomas Allom (1804-1872) the noted topographical artist, at a time of increased interest in China, presented the Western world with the most complete portrait of China and Chinese culture up to the middle of the nineteenth century. Captioned in English, French and German, the plates encompass Hong Kong, Beijing, Nanjing, Macao, Guangzhou, and Xiamen, among other locations, and depict, inter alia, harbours, temples, palaces, mountains and rivers, military engagements, punishments, the cultivation of tea and rice and the manufacture of silk, the Great Wall of China, cat merchants, and 'playing at shuttlecock with the feet'. As well as his own observations, Allom includes some images based on the work of earlier artists such as Lieutenant Frederick White, R.M., Captain Stoddart, R.N. and R. Vaughan. The text was by George Wright, a protestant missionary who had spent a considerable time in China. Cordier 80-81; Lust 363; Lowendahl 986.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. A Most Attractive Quarto Set. 4 volumes bound in 2. Half Contemporary Brown Calf and marbled boards with raised bands and gilt to spines. Embellished with 4 Vignette Title-pages and 124 Stunning steel-engraved tissue-guarded Plates. A.e.gilt. An unusually clean and fresh set with minimal spotting / foxing. (ref. Cordier 80 - 81 ;- Lowendahl 986 ;- Lust 363.).

Condition: Good. 4to. 21.1 x 27.2 cm. 4 volumes bound in 2 . Half-brown morocco with small morocco corners, embossed percaline covers, smooth spine decorated (contemporary binding).128 plates engraved on steel from drawings made on site by Thomas Allom, including 4 engraved titles. Complete. Very good. Cordier 80-81; Lust 363; Lowendahl 986. OCLC shows no complete sets of the first edition.