A fine and rare album of 67 china trade watercolours, Qing Dynasty, circa 1835, depicting members of the imperial court, views of trading posts, furniture, decorative arts, native flora, fish and bird species, in red morocco ruled and richly gilt stamped binding, 24cm x 20cm Provenance: Private Collection Sotheby's, New York, Fine Books and Manuscripts online, 21st June 2019, lot 159 Likely to have been painted by at least four distinct artists, the images present here skilfully and vividly depict various scenes in the south eastern region of China. The album is highlighted by a portrait of an imperial prince in gold ground robes and blue surcoat with frontal dragon roundels, an imperial prince in gold ground dragon robes with attendant, and an imperial prince with yellow surcoat-a colour reserved for the imperial family-and lavender ground robes. Each is followed by a companion portrait of their consort. Civil and military officials were divided into nine ranks, from first (highest) to ninth (lowest). Each was indicated by a corresponding animal, stitched on to a robe, or bufu, so a person's rank could be easily identified. Real and mythical animals, such as qilins, indicated military status, while civil ranks were represented by birds. The album also depicts the four port views in the Chinese export painting canon: Canton, Whampoa, Boca Tigris, and Macau. The hongs at Canton were established in the late 17th century, and quickly became a popular subject for those local artists who could paint the details of architecture and shipping to the satisfactions of western visitors. As the largest and oldest of trading ports, Canton was the most established. It would not be until 1843 that the five additional 'treaty ports' of Amoy, Foochow, Hong Kong, and Shanghai would open and export paintings available. In the present paintings, ships from the East India Company, England, American, Netherlands and Denmark mill about these thriving ports. A comparison of different views shows the ever changing political and physical landscape of the hongs, for example, at Canton, the Spanish flag flew to the left of the American flag until about 1830, and here we see it replaced by the French flag. 约清1835年 罕见中国动植物及建筑等各式题材外销画一本67件拍品来源：纽约苏富比罕见手抄本及图书专场，2019年6月21日，拍品159号 Condition Report: Minor foxing and soiling. Red morocco, ruled and richly gilt stamped, wide dentelles double ruled and gilt stamped, edges gilt; minor losses to spine, joints rubbed, corners bumped, front and rear free endpapers detached. Condition Report Disclaimer
