MASON, Major George Henry. The Costumes of China. 2 ff. (titles in English and French), 4 ff. (Preface in English and French), 1 f. (Table), 60 ff. (letterpress description in English and French). With 60 hand-coloured stipple engravings. London: William Miller, 1800. BOUND WITH:

-----. The Punishments of China. 2 ff., 2 ff., 1 f., 22 ff. With 22 hand-coloured plates. Together in one volume. Large 4to., 345 x 255 mm, bound in three-quarter red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. London: William Miller, 1801.

First Editions of two extraordinary works on Chinese costumes. Illustrated throughout with hand-coloured stipple engravings of high quality executed in London by Dadley after original designs by Pu-Qùa of Canton.

The hand-coloured illustrations show, with exceptional fidelity, an unusually broad range of Chinese costumes, such as a Mandarin of Distinction in Ceremonial Dress, a Watchman, a Barber, a Money-Changer, a Bookseller, a Frog-Catcher, a Pork-Butcher, a Pipe-Seller, an Arrow-Maker, a "Tambouriner," a Porter, a Pedler, a Shoemaker, a Viper-Seller, a Soldier, a Lame Beggar, a Beggar with a Monkey, a Mandarin in his Summer Dress, an Apothecary, a Blacksmith, a Woman preparing Tea, a Fishmonger, an Old Woman twisting Cotton, an Old Man polishing Crystals, a Lady of Distinction in Ceremonial Dress, and much more. Near fine copy, the plates are very clean and brightly coloured, occasional staining to the tissue guards. First editions are evidently rare in any condition: Abbey was only able to obtain the later reprint (1804). All editions have become subject to the breaker's knife and are now rare.

Colas 2009 & 2010. Lipperheide Le17. Cf. Cordier 1858 & 549. Hardie 151. Prideaux 317. Tooley 320. Abbey 533 & 532.