I have here for sale a large folding b/w plate showing a SKETCH OF A JOURNEY FROM ZHE-HOL N TARTARY BY LAND TO PEKIN AND from there by water to HANG-TCHOO-FOO in China.  Produced by J Barrow and published by George Nicol in 1796.  Small key to the left hand side.  Under the title is a scale in English Miles and another in Chinese Lys.  

This map gives fine detail of the route taken by George Macartney on the first official British embassy to China 1792-1794, undertaken with the aim of gaining trade concessions from the Chinese Emperor. While the official purpose was not successful, much was learned about China and the Chinese as is evident from this map with its explanatory texts. To the west of Pekin, just below the starting point at Zhe-hol(Jehol) which is situated at the top of this map, the commentary reads: "A great part of the country around Pekin is employed in the production of culinary vegetables and a variety of fruits." At the lower edge of the map, just north of the ending point of Hangzhou is the lake Tai Hoo: "The western side of the Tai-hoo is bounded by a very romantic and fertile country whose mountains are clutivated to their very tops. A great part of the province of Tche-tchiang appears to be cultivated with Mulberry trees for the food of the Silk worms." Cities of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd orders, "considerable towns" and villages are marked, along with "Halting places" etc. Fascinating documentation of the area around the Imperial Canal at the time, published in Staunton's An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China.

In very good condition, just a couple of large but light stains to the top right and bottom right corners.  One horizontal fold across the middle.  77 x 56 cm.

We have over 2000 items in our Ebay shop on a wide range of subjects, so please feel free to have a browse and see if and anything else takes your fancy.