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Exploration & Travel : East Asia

From the earliest Jesuit missions under Matteo Ricci and Nicolas Trigault to 20th-century Hong Kong, these rare books cover Japan, Korea, China, and Mongolia, and important events such as the First and Second Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion, and Japanese Sakoku (isolation).

See: Africa, Antarctica, Arabia & the Middle East, Arctic, Australasia, the Pacific & Voyages, Central Asia, Europe, Exploration & Travel, Greece, Turkey & the Ottoman Empire, Mountaineering, Russia & the Caucasus, South Asia, Southeast Asia, The Americas

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  • First edition of Hong Kong by Ellen Thorbecke, one of the iconic picture books by Schiff with the scarce dust-jacket.
    First edition of Hong Kong by Ellen Thorbecke, one of the iconic picture books by Schiff with the scarce dust-jacket.

    THORBECKE, Ellen.
    Hong Kong. n.d. [1940].
    £600.00

  • The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.
    The earliest authoritative source of information on China available in Europe at that time. The most important work on China since Marco Polo.

    RICCI, Matteo; TRIGAULT, Nicholas.
    De Christiana Expeditione apud Sinas Susepta ab Societate Iesu, 1616.
    £7,500.00

  • First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.
    First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.

    CRANSTON, Claudia.
    I've Been Around. 1937.
    £250.00

  • Signed presentation copy of the first edition of Far Eastern Impressions by Ernest Hatch, recording a tour of Japan, Korea, and China in 190 before the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, better known as the Manchuria Crisis.
    Signed presentation copy of the first edition of Far Eastern Impressions by Ernest Hatch, recording a tour of Japan, Korea, and China in 190 before the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese War, better known as the Manchuria Crisis.

    HATCH, Ernest.
    Far Eastern Impressions. 1904.
    £275.00

  • First edition of Basil Hall's Account of a Voyage of Discovery, part of the Amherst embassy, explored the relatively little known East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Visits were made to Korea and the Ryukyu Archipelago.
    First edition of Basil Hall's Account of a Voyage of Discovery, part of the Amherst embassy, explored the relatively little known East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. Visits were made to Korea and the Ryukyu Archipelago.

    HALL, Capt. Basil.
    Account of a Voyage of Discovery to the West Coast of Corea, and the Great Loo-Choo Island; 1818.
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of The Opium Clippers by Basil Lubbock, in the scarce duist-jacket which has preserved the lavish binding in lovely condition.
    First edition of The Opium Clippers by Basil Lubbock, in the scarce duist-jacket which has preserved the lavish binding in lovely condition.

    LUBBOCK, Basil.
    The Opium Clippers. 1933.
    £400.00

  • First edition of Ling-Nam by Benjamin Couch Henry, one of the few English books with references to Hainan which is the tropical island located in the southernmost tip of China.
    First edition of Ling-Nam by Benjamin Couch Henry, one of the few English books with references to Hainan which is the tropical island located in the southernmost tip of China.

    HENRY, Benjamin Couch.
    Ling-Nam, 1886.
    £650.00

  • Second edition, expanded and revised, of Eduard Kann's The Currencies of China, a detailed account of the gold and silver market in China, published and printed in Shanghai.
    Second edition, expanded and revised, of Eduard Kann's The Currencies of China, a detailed account of the gold and silver market in China, published and printed in Shanghai.

    KANN, Eduard.
    The Currencies of China. 1928.
    £450.00

  • Fine copy of the first edition of Seas and Lands by Edwin Arnold, a collection of travel pieces on Japan with numerous photographic illustrations.
    Fine copy of the first edition of Seas and Lands by Edwin Arnold, a collection of travel pieces on Japan with numerous photographic illustrations.

    ARNOLD, Edwin.
    Seas And Lands. 1891.
    £350.00

  • Presentation copy of Wade's With Boat and Gun in the Yangtze Valley, a scace work describing the Yangtze valley including Ningpo, Suzhou, and Nanking.
    Presentation copy of Wade's With Boat and Gun in the Yangtze Valley, a scace work describing the Yangtze valley including Ningpo, Suzhou, and Nanking.

    WADE, H. T. (editor).
    With Boat and Gun in the Yangtze Valley. 1895.
    £2,000.00

  • Scarce parliamentary paper, Correspondence respecting insults in China, detailing the diplomatic incidents between 1842 and 1856 that precipitated the Second Opium War.

    [CHINA].
    Correspondence Respecting Insults in China. 1857.
    £1,250.00

  • The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.
    The first 4to edition of Jean Baptiste Du Halde's Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique de l'Empire de la Chine, one of the most important early works on China amalgamating 27 different missionary voyages.

    DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste.
    Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique 1736.
    £6,750.00

  • First edition of Recent Events and Present Policies in China by John Otway Percy Bland, one of his highly influential works on contemporary China.
    First edition of Recent Events and Present Policies in China by John Otway Percy Bland, one of his highly influential works on contemporary China.

    BLAND, John Otway Percy.
    Recent Events and Present Policies in China. 1912.
    £250.00

  • First edition of China by Samuel Kidd, a handsome copy of this scarce work giving an overview of Chinese society in the early nineteenth century
    First edition of China by Samuel Kidd, a handsome copy of this scarce work giving an overview of Chinese society in the early nineteenth century

    KIDD, Samuel.
    China, 1841.
    £650.00

  • First edition of Robert Fortune's Three Years Wanderings in the Northern Provinces of China, recounting Fortune's travels between 1843 and 1845 in Kuangtung, Fukien, the Chekiang coast, and Shanghai.
    First edition of Robert Fortune's Three Years Wanderings in the Northern Provinces of China, recounting Fortune's travels between 1843 and 1845 in Kuangtung, Fukien, the Chekiang coast, and Shanghai.

    FORTUNE, Robert.
    Three Years' Wanderings in the northern provinces of China, 1847.
    £1,250.00

  • First edition of John Henry Gray's scarce guidebook Walks in the City of Canton. The work is structured into seven distinct walks around the city, with extensive detail and history on the sights and landmarks encountered on each route.
    First edition of John Henry Gray's scarce guidebook Walks in the City of Canton. The work is structured into seven distinct walks around the city, with extensive detail and history on the sights and landmarks encountered on each route.

    GRAY, John Henry.
    Walks in the City of Canton... 1875.
    £2,400.00

  • First edition of J.D. Vaughan's The Manners and Customs of the Chinese of the Straits Settlements, a wonderfully well preserved book on the everyday habits and behaviours of the large Singapore Chinese population.
    First edition of J.D. Vaughan's The Manners and Customs of the Chinese of the Straits Settlements, a wonderfully well preserved book on the everyday habits and behaviours of the large Singapore Chinese population.

    VAUGHAN, J.D.
    The Manners and Customs, of the Chinese of the Straits Settlements. 1879.
    £7,500.00

  • A very attractive series of photographs displaying Hong Kong in its colonial heyday.
    A very attractive series of photographs displaying Hong Kong in its colonial heyday.

    [HONG KONG]. HAZELL, Denis H. (photographer).
    Picturesque Hong Kong. n.d. circa 1925.
    £1,000.00

  • A superbly bound dopy of La Chine by Malpiere, a work which is seldom found complete.
    A superbly bound dopy of La Chine by Malpiere, a work which is seldom found complete.

    MALPIERE, D. Bazin de.
    La Chine. Moeurs, usages, costumes, arts et metiers. 1825-1827.
    £17,500.00

  • A superb copy with royal provenance of van Overmeer Fisscher's survey of Japan, where he worked from 1820 to 1829 as a Dutch factory employee at Deshima.
    A superb copy with royal provenance of van Overmeer Fisscher's survey of Japan, where he worked from 1820 to 1829 as a Dutch factory employee at Deshima.

    OVERMEER FISSCHER, J.F. van.
    Bijdrage tot de kennis van het Japansche Rijk. 1833.
    £25,000.00

  • Borget's fine lithographic views of China, including five of Hong-Kong, and others relating to Macao and Canton.
    Borget's fine lithographic views of China, including five of Hong-Kong, and others relating to Macao and Canton.

    BORGET, Auguste.
    Sketches of China and the Chinese. 1842.
    £22,500.00

  • Scarce complete set of the secret reports on China compiled for Naval Intelligence.
    Scarce complete set of the secret reports on China compiled for Naval Intelligence.

    [GEOGRAPHICAL HANDBOOK SERIES].
    China proper. 1944-1945.
    £750.00

  • First edition of Isidore Helman's Faits Memorables des Empereurs de la Chin, a much celebrated French production of the Dijian Tushuo or 'The Emperor's Mirror'.
    First edition of Isidore Helman's Faits Memorables des Empereurs de la Chin, a much celebrated French production of the Dijian Tushuo or 'The Emperor's Mirror'.

    HELMAN, Isidore-Stanislaus-Henri.
    Faits Memorables des Empereurs de la Chine, 1788.
    £3,750.00

  • With the rare dust-wrapper. Le Palud's account of a journey from Chungking to Ichang illustrated with fine large photographs.
    With the rare dust-wrapper. Le Palud's account of a journey from Chungking to Ichang illustrated with fine large photographs.

    LE PALUD, A.M.
    The Yangtze Gorges in pictures and prose. n.d. [but 1930's].
    £750.00

  • Hugh Lindsay's Report of Proceedings contains reports by Lindsay, an East India Company man, and Charles Gutzlaff on trade with China and Corea
    Hugh Lindsay's Report of Proceedings contains reports by Lindsay, an East India Company man, and Charles Gutzlaff on trade with China and Corea

    Lindsay, Hugh Hamilton.
    Report of proceedings on a voyage to the northern ports of China 1834 & 1840.
    £650.00

  • The first edition of Du Halde's account of China and one of the earliest European sources on Chinese ceramics. With first printed map of part of Alaska.
    The first edition of Du Halde's account of China and one of the earliest European sources on Chinese ceramics. With first printed map of part of Alaska.

    DU HALDE, Jean Baptiste.
    Description Géographique, Historique, Chronologique, Politique et Physique 1735.
    £35,000.00

  • A fine copy of Kozlov's detailed account of his expedition to the Gobi desert and the excavation of Khara-Khoto between 1907 and 1909.
    A fine copy of Kozlov's detailed account of his expedition to the Gobi desert and the excavation of Khara-Khoto between 1907 and 1909.

    KOZLOV, Petr Kuzmich.
    Mongoliia i Amdo i mertvyi gorod Khara-Khoto [Mongolia, and Amdo, and the dead city of Khara-Khoto]. 1923.
    £4,250.00

  • Best edition, enlarged and corrected. Contains descriptions of the Ryukyus (then a Chinese protectorate) and Canton (Guangzhou).
    Best edition, enlarged and corrected. Contains descriptions of the Ryukyus (then a Chinese protectorate) and Canton (Guangzhou).

    M'LEOD, John.
    Voyage of His Majesty's ship Alceste, 1818.
    £675.00

  • Travels 1843-45 in Kuangtung, Fukien, the Chekiang coast, and Shanghai. Visit to the tea, silk, and cotton countries Chinese new plants, etc.
    Travels 1843-45 in Kuangtung, Fukien, the Chekiang coast, and Shanghai. Visit to the tea, silk, and cotton countries Chinese new plants, etc.

    FORTUNE, Robert.
    Three years' wanderings in 1847.
    £1,100.00

  • First edition of Marshman's pioneering work, Elements of Chinese grammar.
    First edition of Marshman's pioneering work, Elements of Chinese grammar.

    MARSHMAN, Joshua.
    Elements of Chinese grammar, 1814.
    £5,000.00

  • Important account of the First Opium War. Includes a fine map of Hong Kong.
    Important account of the First Opium War. Includes a fine map of Hong Kong.

    HALL, William Hutcheson; BERNARD, W[illiam] D[allas].
    Narrative of the voyages and services of the Nemesis, 1845.
    £1,350.00

  • First edition of the scarce 1920 handbook on Manchuria, issued during Zhang Zuolin's rule as Manchuria tried to establish its indpendence from both China and Japan, and is clearly being treated here by European countries as its own nation.
    First edition of the scarce 1920 handbook on Manchuria, issued during Zhang Zuolin's rule as Manchuria tried to establish its indpendence from both China and Japan, and is clearly being treated here by European countries as its own nation.

    [FOREIGN OFFICE].
    Manchuria. 1920.
    £450.00

  • Includes two views of Hong Kong.
    Includes two views of Hong Kong.

    SMITH, Rev. George.
    A narrative of an exploratory visit 1847.
    £1,100.00

  • The first Anglo-Chinese centennial calendar, covering the period 1776-1876
    The first Anglo-Chinese centennial calendar, covering the period 1776-1876

    LOUREIRO, P.
    The 100 years Anglo-Chinese calendar, 1872.
    £2,000.00

  • The author was artist on Sosnovsky's expedition across Siberia to Lake Baikal and Mongolia. One of the first expeditions to cross the entire Gobi Desert.
    The author was artist on Sosnovsky's expedition across Siberia to Lake Baikal and Mongolia. One of the first expeditions to cross the entire Gobi Desert.

    PIASSETSKY, P.
    Russian Travellers in Mongolia and China. 1884.
    £1,250.00

  • First edition of this important early description of Mongolia with hand-coloured plates. From the library of the America diplomat Angus Ivan Ward.
    First edition of this important early description of Mongolia with hand-coloured plates. From the library of the America diplomat Angus Ivan Ward.

    [FAR EAST]. BICHURIN (Monakh Iakinf).
    Zapiski o Mongolii 1828.
    £9,500.00

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