Shanghai, Photo-lithographed from the original by Tien-Shih-Chai Photo-Lithographic works, 1879. 1 small volume in-16, chinese binding, original gilt pictorial purple silk covers (detached), illustrations in black and white on chinese paper, vi pp. of text in english by chinese publisher, 292 pages lithographed with illustrations and 7 pages of chinese text, good condition despite covers detached. Each illustration has an english caption below and a chinese caption on the side.
Extremely rare document, published by photolithography, a technical process new in China at that time. "The original of these sketches, printed over 150 years ago and expensively mounted on silk, was brought to the present publisher as a rare book of considerable value; and, giving as it does a glimpse of the Chinese in their Capital as they were a century and a half ago - portrayed by their own hands - a fac-simile reproduction, will, it is hoped, not be without interest to the European public." Introduction by the publisher.