A handsome set of Sir John Rutherford Alcock's (1809-1897) account of his time as the first British diplomatic representative to reside in Japan.

Alcock was appointed Britain's first Consul-General in Japan in 1858 following the conclusion of Lord Elgin's treaty. Alcock proceeded at once to Tokyo. The admission of foreigners into the country had produced a wild ferment among the military classes of Japan, a spirit which was not long in showing itself in its fiercest aspects. Several foreigners were murdered in the streets of Tokyo, and Alcock's Japanese linguist was cut down by a swordsman at the gates of the legation. Not content with these isolated onslaughts the discontented Ronin determined to make a general attack upon the British legation. Without any warning, on the night of 5 July 1861, they scaled the outer fence, killed the gatekeeper and a groom, and rushed towards the rooms occupied by the members of the legation. These defended themselves so well that they beat off their assailants. One of the most important early accounts of Western relations with Japan in the modern era.

First edition; 2 vols, 8vo (22 x 15 cm); 16 chromolithograph plates including frontispieces by M. & N. Hanhart, 2 colour engraved folding maps, 124 in-text woodcuts and 2 engraved plates by G. Pearson, armorial bookplates to pastedowns, plates slightly mottled but still attractive, small nick to margin of first map; contemporary green half calf, cloth boards, gilt spine in six compartments with contrasting gilt lettering pieces, all edges marbled, a fine set; xxxi, [1], 469, [1]; x, 539pp.

Cordier (Japonica), 556.