STAUNTON, Sir George (1737-1801). An Historical Account of the Embassy to the Emperor of China, Undertaken by Order of the King of Great Britain? London: John Stockdale, 1797. 8vo. Illustrated with 25 engraved maps and plates, including frontispiece and engraved title-page. [xvi], [1]-475, [5, ads and Directions to the Binder]. No half-title. Approximately 8 ? x 5". Bound in contemporary full tree calf, rebacked in modern brown calf, spine ruled and lettered in gilt (some wear, scuffing to boards, hinges with later repairs, endleaves with some offsetting, text toned, with some occasional foxing, thumbsoiling, some sticker residue on fp. with previous owner's signature, Arch. Hamilton, visible). Very good. FIRST OCTAVO ABRIDGED EDITION. This important account shed much light on China and her government, very mysterious to the West at the time. Although this expedition was an important source of information, it failed to establish a permanent British Embassy in China.