Faits mémorables des empereurs de la Chine. Tirés des annales chinoises [...]. Ornés de 24 estampes in 4°. Gravées par Helman, d'après les dessins originaux de la Chine, tirés du Cabinet de Mr Bertin [...].

Folio: [26] ff.; 24 pl. (foxing, occ. marg. soiling).

19th-c. half sheep, marbled paper covers, gilt ruled flat spine, brown spr. edges (rubbed).

Work entirely engraved, on laid paper. First issue of the 24 plates based on drawings of the Jesuit Jean-Denis Attiret (1702-1768), imperial painter, with explanatory text on facing pages. Engr. title and armorial headpiece at dedication after Monet. The book of Helman is based on the 16th-c. "Dijian tushuo", a work commissioned to educate the Wanli Emperor, from the Ming dynasty, by presenting short stories of good and evil emperors throughout the ages. The French engraver Helman (1743-1806) was a pupil of Le Bas.
Ref. Cohen 479. - Portalis & Béraldi II:396:24. - Cordier, Sinica, 587-588. - Brunet III:90.