"CHINA HAS VERY LITTLE COMMUNICATION WITH THE BARBARIANS OF THE WEST… JAPAN HAS STILL LESS, AND COREA NONE AT ALL"

MLEOD, John. Voyage of His Majesty's Ship Alceste, along the Coast of Corea, to the Island of Lewchew; with an Account of Her Subsequent Shipwreck. London: John Murray, 1818. Octavo, contemporary full brown straight-grain morocco sympathetically rebacked, marbled endpapers. $1750.

Second and best edition, with frontispiece portrait of Captain Maxwell and five fine hand-colored aquatint plates, including a plate not present in the first edition of the preceding year.

This voyage was undertaken for the purpose of conveying the English embassy, under the leadership of Lord Amherst, to China. "On the return voyage the Alceste struck a submerged reef and became a total loss… A long and vivid account is given of their experiences, of how they were attacked by Malay pirates, and of their final rescue. On their return voyage, St. Helena was visited and an interesting account is given of an interview with Napoleon… The second edition is considered the best edition" (Hill I:188-89). Bound with half title. Abbey, Travel 559.

Only occasional faint foxing, plates clean and fine, with vivid coloring. Light wear to extremities. Very good in nicely rebacked contemporary morocco.