Customs and Costumes of the Chinese by Grohmann 

Grohmann, Johann Gottfrie. Gebräuche und Kleidungen der Chinesen Dargestellt in Bunten Gemälden: von dem Maler Pu – Qua in Canton als Zusatz zu Macartneys und van Braams Riesen. LeipzigIndustrie-Comptoir, 1800. Text in French and German. 4to, marbled paper and half-leather boards; applied title block on tp, space for number at top blank; 55 text pages to go with 55 wonderful hand-colored full-page plates. In custom clamshell box, half-leather with marbled paper and matching lining to box with gilt German short title on spine.

Title translates roughly to "Customs and Clothing of the Chinese Presented in Colorful paintings: by the Painter Pu-Qua in Canton as supplement to Macartney's and van Braams travels." George Macartney was a British envoy who was sent to China 1792-94 to negotiate better trade policies between Britain and China, and hoping to establish a permanent embassy in Beijing. Although unsuccessful at these official goals, the mission did return to Europe with information about the Chinese, such as that entailed in this volume - customs, manners, dress, etc.

Andreas Everardis van Braam Houckgeest got his "sea legs" in the Dutch navy, but soon left to work for the Dutch East India Company (VOC), arriving in China in 1758. When he heard about the British mission, he entreated the Dutch government to make a similar attempt, since the VOC had been trading in China for decades. They took his advice, but appointed Isaac Titsingh as head of the embassy. Van Braam wrote of his experiences after his return, published in French, first in Philadelphia, then Paris.

Wear to boards, some signatures loose, especially plates 6 and 7. Some damage to last two lines of type on text page accompanying plate 6. Most plates fine with guards intact. Minor foxing and toning.
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