BRETON DE LA MARTINIéRE, JEAN BAPTISTE JOSEPH: - La Chine en miniature ou choix de costumes, arts et métiers de cet empire. Four volumes. + Coup-d'oeil sur la Chine, ou nouveau choix de costumes, arts et métiers de cet empire. Two volumes. Paris, Nepveu, 1811-12.

. 16mo. Pp. xxxvi, 144; (iv),5-172; 188, (iv), 220 + pp. (iv), xxxiv, 236; (iv), 234. With 108 engraved plates, of which 101 are beautifully hand-coloured and 8 folding. Contemporary red quarter calf on red paper-covered boards, ruled in gilt, spines decorated and lettered in gilt. Partly with some minor browning but overall a very fine set. The first four volumes were originally issued in 1811 and the last two volumes here titled "Coup-d'oeil" were added as a supplement in 1812. A complete set (in six volumes) of Breton's charming work devoted to China and its people, crafts and arts. The illustrations come from two young Chinese students who for a few years studied in France with the support of the French statesman Henri Léonard Bertin. He was then responsible for the East India Company (1762-80) and supported the French Jesuits in China. Upon their return to China, the students produced more than 400 arts and crafts drawings, many of which have been used in this work. The beautiful plates mainly depict various craftsmen and vendors with their tools and products, but several are devoted to the costumes of emperors, ladies, lamas and soldiers. Some of the plates first appeared in Mason's "The costume of China" and "The Punishments of China" (1800-01). Cordier BS 64. Lipperheide 1524. Löwendahl 757.

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