China - Lot 600

China ITIER (Jules) Journal d'un voyage en Chine en 1843, 1844, 1845, 1846. Paris, Dauvin et Fontaine, 1848. 2 volumes in one in-4; illustrated with 2 frontispiece plates (Country house of Pan Tsen Chea; View of the floating city of Canton), a geological map of the Cape-Town area enhanced in color, a fold-out table and a musical stave plate of a Chinese tune. Marginal spotting in places. Contemporary ½ black basane, gilt title and fillets on smooth spine, small leather tear at head of front board and spine. Relation d'un voyage commercial en Chine. Delegated by the Ministers of Commerce and Finance, Jules Itier arrived in Macao in 1844, after an eight-month journey via Rio, Cape Town, Bourbon Island and Manila. Among the representatives of the major manufacturing cities exhibiting French products to Chinese traders, Itier (photographer) enjoyed great success with his display of daguerreotypes and electric batteries. By 1845, with most of the diplomats having returned to France, Itier and the various trade delegates were prospecting the markets of Southeast Asia, Canton and Hong Kong.