Voyage en Chine et en Tartarie, à la suite de l'ambassade de Lord Macartney, par M. Holmes, sergent-major de sa garde ; auquel on a joint les Vues, Costumes, etc., de la Chine, par M. W. Alexandre, les Planches de l'Atlas original de cette Ambassade, omises dans la traduction française, et leur Explication. Ouvrage traduit de l'anglais (…) revu et publié avec des Observations sur les relations politiques et commerciales de l'Angleterre et de la France avec la Chine, et quelques Notes, par L. Langlès

First edition of the French translation, illustrated with a plan of Macao and 51 engraved plates by S. Simon after drawings by William Alexander (cf. Cordier, Sinica, 2387).

In the train of Lord Macartney’s embassy, by Mr Holmes, sergeant-major of his guard; to which have been added the Views, Costumes, etc., of China, by Mr W. Alexander, the plates from the original atlas of the embassy omitted from the French translation, together with their explanations. Translated from the English (…), revised and published with observations on the political and commercial relations of England and France with China, and notes by L. Langlès. 

Nineteenth-century binding in tan half calf, spine with five raised bands framed by gilt dotted rules, partly faded, black calf lettering-piece, gilt rules at head and foot, some rubbing to the spine, marbled-paper boards, marbled endpapers and pastedowns, rubbing to the board edges.

Some foxing.

The plates were first published in England under the title Views, Costumes and Manners of China (1798).

Samuel Holmes’s Journal, printed in a very small edition, appeared in the same year.

Holmes was a member of the guard accompanying Macartney on his embassy to China and Tartary.

"Il tint un journal exact de tout ce qui se passa sous ses yeux et dans la sphère de ses connoissances. Ce récit simple et sans apprêts porte à chaque page le cachet de l'authenticité ; sa lecture prouve que tous les objets et tous les événemens ont été décrits aussitôt après l'impression reçue, et conformément à cette impression" [from the English publisher’s preface].