Lot 78: ALEXANDER, William (1767-1816).The Costume of China. London: William Miller, 1805.

ALEXANDER, William (1767-1816). The Costume of China. London: William Miller, 1805. 4° (329 x 246mm). 48 hand-colored aquatint plates after Alexander. (Lacking half-title as often, occasional spotting, some offsetting onto text leaves.) Contemporary morocco, covers paneled in gilt and blind, spine in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands gilt (some wear to extremities, joints starting). Provenance: Richard Jones Higgins (gift inscription on pastedown). FIRST EDITION with the plates in the colored state. Abbey calls for plates 6-9 in the first state before letters; in this copy, they are in the second state with letters. Alexander travelled to China as draughtsman with Lord Macartney's Embassy to the Emperor in 1792-4. Abbey Travel, 534; Colas 74.