These fascinating copperplate engravings come from a famous work originally published in Dutch by the trade diplomat Jan Nieuhoff, but translated into English by the British mapmaker and publisher John Ogilby.

The images provide an document of early western contact with China and come from the account written by the diplomat Jan Nieuhoff who was the steward of the first Dutch trade Ambassadors to China.

The full title of the work was:

An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperor of China, Delivered by their Excellencies Peter De Goyer, and Jacob De Keyser, at his imperial City of Peking. Wherein the Cities, Towns, Villages, Ports, Rivers, &c. in their Passages from Canton to Peking, are Ingeniously Describ'd by Mr. John Nieuhoff, Steward to the Ambassadors. Also, An Epistle of Father John Adams, their Antagonist, concerning the whole Negotiation. With an Appendix of several Remarks taken out of Father Athanasius Kircher. Translated and published by John Ogilby