GUIGNES, Chrétien-Louis-Joseph de.
Voyages à Peking, Manille et l'Ile de France, faits dans l'intervalle des années 1784 a 1801.
Paris, l'Imprimerie Impériale (J.J. Marcel) for Treuttel and Würtz, 1808. 3 text volumes and 1 atlas volume. 8vo (text) and folio (atlas). The atlas with 92 engraved illustrations on 61 leaves by De Guines after Deserve and 6 engraved maps (4 folding) by D'Houdan. Text volumes in 19th-century half calf, atlas volume in contemporary half calf. [4], LXIII, 439; [4] 476; [4], 488 pp.; atlas: 4 pp. text (title and index).
€ 9,500
Original edition of this esteemed and well-illustrated account of travels in, and history, costumes, feasts, customs, etc. of China and the Philippines by the French sinologist and lexicographer Chrétien-Louis-Joseph de Guignes. De Guignes was appointed Resident of France in China and consul at Canton in 1784, and remained in China after the consulate was suppressed 3 years later. He lived in China for 17 years, and was attached as interpreter to the Dutch embassy to Beijing (1794-1795), led by Titsingh and Van Braam. De Guignes's engaging travelogue recounts his experiences in China, with illustrations after sketches which he made on the spot. His narrative provides an interesting and personal perspective on the embassy to Beijing.
De Guignes was the son of the distinguished sinologist Joseph de Guignes, and a correspondent for the Académie des Sciences and the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres. He authored the important dictionary Dictionnaire Chinois-Français et Latin (1813).
Spine of atlas volume slightly damaged. Very good set. Cordier, Sinica, cols. 2351-2352; Löwendahl 738; Lust 336; Morison II, 104; Reed & Demattè 11.
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