ABEL, Clarke (1780-1826). Narrative of a Journey in the Interior of China, and of a Voyage to and from the Country, in the Years 1816 and 1817... London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1818.
Small folio (273 x 210 mm). 4 engraved maps (3 folding), 18 aquatint or stipple engraved plates by Fielding (some partially color-printed with hand heightening, two uncolored botanical plates folding), illustrations to text; errata slip inserted before preface. (Offsetting to plates from text.) Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, olive morocco lettering-piece gilt in second, ownership library gilt-lettered on front cover near joint (joints splitting). Provenance: Newby Hall (gilt-lettered on upper cover); Grantham (bookplate).
FIRST EDITION. Abel was chief medical officer and naturalist to Lord Amherst's embassy and a number of the plates are of natural history subjects, including a fine orang-utang (p.323). The description of the voyage includes Java, Hong Kong, Manilla and a sea fight with Malays. cf. Abbey, Travel 537 (second edition); Lust 496.
