Lot 111 , Bernard, W. D. The Nemesis in China. Third edition, revised and improved, 1846. Presentation copy, inscribed by Captain W. H. Hall.

° Bernard, W. D. The Nemesis in China. Third edition, revised and improved, 1846. Presentation copy, inscribed by Captain W. H. Hall. Bernard, William Dallas. The Nemesis in China: Comprising a History of the Late War in that Country; with a Complete Account of the Colony of Hong-Kong. From Notes of Captain W. H. Hall, R.N., and Personal Observations by W. D. Bernard. London: Henry Colburn, 1846. Third edition, revised and improved.

8vo, xxix, 399 pp. Three engraved plates, seven woodcuts and four folding maps. Contemporary full dark morocco by Westleys & Clark, signed at the foot of the front free endpaper, elaborately decorated in gilt, the boards with multiple ornamental borders incorporating floral and Greek-key designs, the upper board with a central gilt device of a hand grasping a sword above the initials “M.J.M.”; pink watered-silk doublures and free endpapers, all edges gilt.

Presentation copy, inscribed by Captain William Hutcheon Hall: “With Captain Hall’s Kind regards to Mrs Mathison, 15th March 1847.”

An important contemporary account of the First Opium War, compiled from the notes of Captain William Hutcheon Hall (1797–1878), commander of the East India Company steamer Nemesis, together with Bernard’s personal observations. Bernard himself acknowledged Hall's assistance and cooperation as indispensable to the completion of the work. The present third edition is recorded as published by Henry Colburn in 1846, with 399 pages.

Complete with the illustrations and maps called for by the printed Illustrations leaf. The three engravings comprise The Nemesis (frontispiece), Portrait of Afah (facing p. 1), and Battle of Woosung (p. 326). The seven woodcuts include technical plans relating to the Nemesis, naval operations before Canton, the bridge of boats at Ningpo, and Chinese caricatures of the English. The four folding maps comprise Track Chart from England to China (p. 52); Map of Hong-Kong (p. 198); East Coast of China from Canton to Nanking (p. 372); and Canton River and its Branches, with Plan of Operations at Canton (at end).

Loosely inserted is a contemporary illustrated leaf entitled “CHINESE PRISON CAGE”, depicting two Chinese bearers carrying a barred cage containing a European prisoner. Beneath is an extensive manuscript caption recording that the cage was “taken from the prison at Ningpo, by Captn W. H. Hall of the ‘Nemesis’” and relating the imprisonment of Mrs Noble following the wreck of the Kite transport, together with Captain Anstruther, Lieutenant Douglas, R.N., and other prisoners.
£80-120

Condition:
Contemporary dark morocco with some rubbing and wear to the joints and edges; gilt decoration remains largely clear, including the hand-and-sword device and “M.J.M.” initials to the upper board. Presentation inscription clear and legible. Contents generally clean, with relatively little spotting; occasional minor surface marks and intermittent light surface rubbing/abrasion to the paper. Some foxing to the engraved portrait of Afah. All four folding maps present, with some foxing and staining, creasing and occasional minor tears to margins, folds and attachment points. The East Coast of China from Canton to Nanking map with a long tear extending from the lower edge into the map, leaving a section partially detached, but without apparent significant loss. Other maps substantially intact. Loosely inserted Chinese Prison Cage leaf with some marginal toning and spotting, minor creasing and edge wear; printed image and manuscript caption remain clear.