Alexander Historical Auctions is selling an accounts book from the first full year of US-Chinese trade.
E Bumstead & Co established the first US trading office in China
The lot belonged to E Bumstead and Co, the first American trading house to establish itself in mainland China.
The company specialised in trading American furs for Chinese tea.
It opened up its first office in the city of Canton (now known as Guangzhou) in 1803.
The accounts cover 1804 to 1805 and detail the first full year of trading between the two nations - now the world’s largest trade partners.
It’s valued at $6,000-9,000 ahead of the May 10 sale.
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