Description:

WESTERN DIPLOMATIC AND COLONIAL FIGURES IN CHINA
Good group of five letters, two notes, and eight signatures, all executed by American and European diplomats and colonial administrators stationed in China and Japan, includes: GEORGE BALFOUR (1809-1894) British consul to China, chose the site for the English settlement in Shanghai. Autograph note in the third person, 1p. 8vo., London, [n.d.], offering to support the first reading of a bill in Parliament, executing his name as "Sir George Balfour"; ARNOLD VISSIERE (1858-1930) French diplomat and sinologist, served as Consul General and Minister Plenipotentiary to China. A.N.S. in French, 1p. 12mo., [n.p., n.d.], in the third person, executing his name as "A. Vissiere"; JOHN WESLEY DAVIS (1799-1859) American Speaker of the House and Commissioner to China. A.L.S., 1p. 8vo., Carlisle, Indiana, June 11, 1853, granting permission for his correspondent to use him as a reference. Docketed on the verso, with some toning and mounting remnants, else very good; JOHN W. FOSTER (1836-1917) Legal consultant to the Qing Dynasty in drafting the Treaty of Shimonoseki. A.L.S., 1p. 8vo., [n.p.], July 3, 1878, apologizing for missing some social events due to a cold. Includes original transmittal envelope. Folds and some foxing, else very good; JOHANNES VON GUMPACH (d. 1875) German-born British educator and Chinese Imperial Customs Officer. A.L.S., 1p. 8vo. [n.p.], Dec. 18, 1866, accepting an invitation to dinner. Bears mounting remnants on the verso, else very good; SAMUEL WELLS WILLIAMS (1812-1884) Official interpreter for Perry's expedition to Japan and Secretary of the United States Legation to China. A.L.S., 1p. 12mo., [n.p., n.d.], a friendly letter exchanging best wishes; FRANK J. GOODNOW (1859-1939) American educator and legal scholar, served as legal advisor to the Chinese government. T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Baltimore, Oct. 11, 1915, to a Mr. Allen, Goodnow is unable to provide his correspondent with an article on China. Folds, else very good; JAMES B. ANGELL (1829-1916) American minister to China, negotiated immigration treaties between China and the U.S which led to the Chinese Exclusion Act. Signature on a 2 1/4" x 3 1/2" card, laid down on a slightly larger card; EDWIN H. CONGER (1843-1907) American minister to China, besieged at Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. Signature on a 2 3/4" x 3 1/4" card, laid down on a larger sheet with a clipped biographical sketch from a reference book; GEOFFREY NORTHCOTE (1881-1948) British colonial administrator, Governor of Hong Kong immediately prior to World War II. Signature on a 3" x 5" card; Donald Cameron (1835-1905) first attaché to Lord Elgin's mission to China in 1857. Signature and salutation clipped from a letter, 2" x 4 1/2"; ALEXANDER H. EVERETT (1792-1847) American commissioner to China appointed in 1845. Signature, 1" x 2 1/2", likely clipped from a letter; GEORGE B. ROBINSON (1797-1855) British Third Superintendent of trade at Canton. Signature cut from a postal cover, 3" x 4 3/4", dated London, Dec. 1, 1826; FLETCHER WEBSTER (1813-1862) First Secretary in the Cushing Embassy to China, which signed the Treaty of Wanghia. Signature cut from a letter, 1 1/2" x 3 1/2", laid down on a slightly larger slip; and ROBERT VAN VALKENBURG (1821-1888) American Minister Plenipotentiary to Japan. Signature on a 2 3/4" x 5 1/2" slip of paper. Some items bear mounting remnants or identifying inscriptions in pencil on the verso, else very good. Fifteen pieces.

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