Four volumes in two. 8vo. 128; 124; 135; 160 pp. With 80 hand-coloured plates, including 4 frontispieces 4 separate title pages, and 3 half-titles. Volume I also contains a dedication and translator's advertisement. Bound by Bayntum in full green straight-grained morocco with lavish paneled gilt decorations to boards. A raised spine comprising six compartments lettered in gilt in the second and fourth compartments. Others with a repeat gilt floral motif; beautiful and ornate gilt inner dentelles; marbled endpapers. An immaculate set with bright hand-coloured plates; from the library of Mary Morgan with her interesting bookplate on front free end paper; This edition is based on the original French edition from 1811 and is the same as the first English edition of 1812 with only a new title page and publisher. It is a charming work on Chinese daily life by M. Bertin - Secretary of State responsible for the 'Compagnie des Indes and French Jesuits' in Peking. He arranged for two Chinese converts to take science courses in France, and on their return to China, they produced hundreds of arts and crafts-related drawings. Coloured plates in order: Volume 1. 1. Frontispiece. Feast of Agriculture. 2. Kien Long Emperor of China. 3. Mandarin / Chinese Lady. 4. Sedan Chair of the Prime Minister. 5. Carriage of the Kong Tchou. 6. Mandarin of the Fifth Class. 7. Chinese Soldiers. 8. Tartar Soldiers. 9. Water Cart of the Palace. 10. Tartar Woman & Child. 11. Grand Lama / Lama of the Banners. 12. Grand Lama / Tao-Tse. 13. A Bonze performing his Vow. 14. Palace of Yuen-Ming-Yuen. 15. A Young Licentiate. 16. A Tartar Woman making a Tsi. 17. Chinese Artillery. 18. Riding Barrow. 19. Mahometan Woman & Son. 20. Mirror Seller. Volume 2. 21. Frontispiece. The Emperor's Eldest Son with his Wife. 22. An Itinerant Bookseller. 23. Chinese Writing. 24. Paper-Making. 25. Paper-Making, second process. 26. Paper-Making, third process. 27. China-Wheel. 28. China Making. 29. China Manufactory. 30. Monkeys Gathering Tea. 31. Indian Ink. 32. Printing. 33. Collecting Varnish. 34. Silk Cord Makers. 35. An Embroiderer. 36. Viper-Seller / Stocking-Maker. 37. Cotton Spinner / Mantua Maker. 38. Money Changer. 39. Chinese Stage Cart. 40. Rope Makers. 41. Bowing Cotton. Volume 3. 42. Frontispiece. A Tartar Lady. 43. Female Musician. 44. Musical Instruments. 45. [Other] Musical Instruments. 46. Florist. 47. Distiller. 48. Pork Butcher. 49. Pedlar / Tobacconist. 50. Tinker. 51. Jack of all Trades. 52. Respectful Salutation. 53. Barber. 54. Pastebiard Horse / Toyman. 55. Paper Kites. 56. Toyman / Shuttlecock Playing. 57. Juggler. 58. Wrestler & Automaton / Tom Tom Player. 59. Puppet-Shew. 60. Mountebank. Volume 4. 61. Frontispiece. Chinese Lady & Family. 62. Rice Mill. 63. Sifting Rice. 64. Chinese Working Man, Chinese Peasant. 65. Rice Straw Cloaks / Sandals of Wood & Straw / Foot & Boot of a Chinese Lady. 66. Decoying Wild Ducks. 67. Cormorants Fishing. 68. Reeling Silk from the Worms. 69. Swan Pan / China Shop. 70. Great Steelyard. 71. Junk. 72. Pleasure Junk. 73. Sugar-Hares / Wine-Truck. 74. Lamp / Candles. 75. The Chain / Shoemaker. 76. Punishment of a False Interpreter. 77. The Bastinao. 78. Tartar Musqueteer / The Cangue. 79. Implements of War. 80. Putting the Fingers to the Rack.