Background:

These unique prints are from Joseph Breton's work featuring "observations, explanatory, historical and literary" on Chinese costumes, arts and trade.   First published in France in 1811, the English edition appeared in 1824.  The prints featured on this page are from the first English edition.  The work appealed to European interest in China and its people as a result of the expansion of trade routes.   Breton also authored a number of works on Russia, Syria and Japan.