DAVIS (John Francis). La Chine, ou Description Générale des - Lot 52

DAVIS (John Francis). La Chine, ou Description Générale des Moeurs et des Coutumes, du Gouvernement, des Lois, des Religions, des Sciences, de la Littérature, des Productions Naturelles des Arts, Manufactures et du Commerce de l'Empire Chinois Revu et augmenté d'un appendice par Bazin Aîné Bruxelles, Société belge de Librairie, 1838. 2 vol. in-12, (4)-382 p. and (4)-407 p., contemporary havana half-basin, smooth spine, gilt title and tomaison (spine and headpieces a little rubbed, a few freckles). Second edition. Numerous woodcuts in and out of text. Translated from the English, by Auguste Pichard, of : The Chinese: A General Description of the Empire of China and Its Inhabitants, published in 1836, revised and enlarged with an appendix by Antoine Bazin. Sir John Francis Davis (1844-1848), sinologist, diplomat, governor of Hong Kong, plenipotentiary of His Britannic Majesty in China and former president of the Compagnie des Indes in China, lived for many years in Canton. He played an important role in the First Opium War, of which he wrote an account.