CHINA - SHANTOU, 1860s Group of six photographs recording the meeting between British Consul Caine and the Governor of the Chao-Chao-Fu [Teochew] region, near Swatow [Shantou], on 24 November 1865, 6 albumen prints, mounted on 2 album sheets, with detailed ink captions on sheet, images 85 x 110mm., and slightly smaller, [October-November 1865] Footnotes: RARE 1860S PHOTOGRAPHS OF A REGIONAL MANDARIN. George Whittingham Caine (1832-1874) was made the British Consul in Swatow [Shantou], on the eastern coast of Guangdong in 1860, the year in which the port was opened up to foreigners after the Treaty of Tientsin The images include three dated 25 November 1865, comprising a seated portrait of Loa-Tai of Chao-Chao-Foo; 'Photograph taken in the Consular's garden...The band and local guard of Loatai [sic]. The latter consists of all sorts of [?], some carrying boards stating the Loa-Tai's rank, others with their red umbrellas are the criers and executioners, these latter always go with the big Mandarin when they visit'; Group portrait, taken on the veranda of the Consulate, of Loa-Tai and three other high ranking local dignitaries (all seated) with Consul Caine, two of his interpreters named Cooper and Forest, 'Dr. Scott', 'Lieut. Mainwaring, Commander of the H.M. Gunboat Haughty', and other 'Mandarins of low order and retainers of Loatai'. The other images, of which two dated to October 1865, include the Consul's house in the foreground with the gunboat Haughty 'refitting off the pier, with a a distant view of Swatow and shipping across the River [Han]'; a view of the doctor's house and that of 'the Consular's assistants house Mr. Cooper'; 'A Chinese at Chow-Chow in the streets eating rice and fish with the chop sticks, Swatow, October, 1865'. In his official report to the government in March 1866, Caine was able to report significant increases in English trade through Sanchou over the past year. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing