The Chronicle & Directory for China, Japan and the Phillipines [sic]

The Chronicle & Directory for China, Japan and the Phillipines [sic] Very scarce, first year of this directory

A very good, complete copy of the first edition of this rare directory, with the armorial bookplate of E.M. Mancel, who is himself listed as the acting French consul at Canton. Pre-1870 editions are extremely rare and this being the first to be published in this format is an extraordinary find. Containing a listing of the foreign residents in China, Japan and the Philippines in 1863, with their occupations, and separate directories for all of the Chinese treaty ports, partly in mandarin, as well as for Japan, Manila, Saigon, and Siam, together with various other useful information. Because they were expensive, it seems that these directories were mostly only purchased by government officials and companies. 'Philippines' is spelled 'Phillipines' on the cover and 'Phillippines' on the title page.

Hong Kong. Daily Press Office. 1863.

pp. vii[1], 229[1], 41[8], [1]+2pp inserted coloured advertisement. 24.4 x 16.8cm.

Original gilt-lettered purple cloth, slightly faded (spine more faded). Front cover with small light stains, small puncture near top of spine, but clean and crisp within. The paper used appears to be of high quality. b34061213