GEORGE FINLAYSON (1790-1823) The Mission to Siam, and Hué and the capital of Cochin China, in the years 1821-2. From the journal of ... Finlayson ... With a memoir of the author by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. London: William Clowes for John Murray 1826. 8° (225 x 138mm). Half-title. Steel-engraved frontispiece view of Bangkok by Edward Finden. (Light soiling to title and frontispiece, slight offset of frontispiece onto title.) Original boards (expertly rebacked to style). FIRST EDITION. 'In the year 1821, a mission was sent by the Governor-general of Bengal to the courts of Siam and Cochin-China ... This mission ... was not attended with the success expected ... It at any rate afforded an opportunity for our obtaining much valuable information respecting countries and people, hitherto almost unknown to us. [The following pages] .... are transcribed nearly verbatim from the private journal of the late Mr. George Finlayson, who was attached to the Mission as Surgeon and naturalist' (Introduction pp.vii-viii). Following the author's death, his journal and the natural history collection he made during the expedition were deposited in the museum of the East India Company. According to Raffles, the journal 'does not profess to afford any account of the official proceedings or conduct of the mission, further than met the author's observation as a spectator in common with others who werre present on the occasion; its objeect is to throw light on the country, and on the character, institutions, and habits of the people generally.' (Introduction p.viii). Cordier Indosinica 975; Satow 110 (incorrect date)
GEORGE FINLAYSON (1790-1823) The Mission to Siam, and Hué and the capital of Cochin China, in the years 1821-2. From the journal of ... Finlayson ... With a memoir of the author by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles. London: William Clowes for John Murray 1826. 8° (225 x 138mm). Half-title. Steel-engraved frontispiece view of Bangkok by Edward Finden. (Light soiling to title and frontispiece, slight offset of frontispiece onto title.) Original boards (expertly rebacked to style). FIRST EDITION. 'In the year 1821, a mission was sent by the Governor-general of Bengal to the courts of Siam and Cochin-China ... This mission ... was not attended with the success expected ... It at any rate afforded an opportunity for our obtaining much valuable information respecting countries and people, hitherto almost unknown to us. [The following pages] .... are transcribed nearly verbatim from the private journal of the late Mr. George Finlayson, who was attached to the Mission as Surgeon and naturalist' (Introduction pp.vii-viii). Following the author's death, his journal and the natural history collection he made during the expedition were deposited in the museum of the East India Company. According to Raffles, the journal 'does not profess to afford any account of the official proceedings or conduct of the mission, further than met the author's observation as a spectator in common with others who werre present on the occasion; its objeect is to throw light on the country, and on the character, institutions, and habits of the people generally.' (Introduction p.viii). Cordier Indosinica 975; Satow 110 (incorrect date)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
