3 volumes, comprising: 2 volumes text, 4to (284 x 225 mm); atlas, small folio (425 x 283 mm). Text volumes: 2 engraved frontispiece portraits, one engraved plate, 26 engravings in text. Atlas volume: additional large-paper engraved frontispiece portraits and 44 engraved maps and plates. (Some spotting and browning.) Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, spines in 5 compartments with 4 wide bands gilt (minor loss to one band on one text volume, some repairs to spines and joints, atlas volume rebacked and recornered, some light rubbing or wear, atlas covers slightly bowed). Provenance: Powell Library Fareham (booklabels in text volumes). 

FIRST EDITION, "A MOST INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF CHINESE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS AT THE CLOSE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY" (Cox). Staunton was appointed principal secretary to Lord Macartney's embassy to Beijing China in 1792. Great Britain was eager to establish a formal diplomatic relationship with China to improve commercial relations and open trade.  Macartney and Staunton had an audience with the Emperor, but their proposals were rejected. Though the mission was ultimately unsuccessful, "his visit was not in vain, however, for it gave us a most interesting account of Chinese manners and customs at the close of the 18th century" (Cox I: 344). Staunton's Account was also of considerable interest for its descriptions of places he visited en route, including Madeira, Teneriff, Rio de Janeiro, St. Helena, Tristan d'Achunha, Amsterdam Island, Java, Sumatra, and Cochin-China. Brunet V:525; Cordier Sinica 2382.