CHINA - 18th century PERFORATED OPTICAL VIEW - "View of PORCELLAIN TOWER at NANCKING in China". Engraved by F. Habermann. Colours of the time. Sold in Augsburg at the common Negoce of the Imperial Academy of Liberal Arts, with the Privilege of His Imperial Majesty and with the prohibition to make or sell copies. Small margins of the copper. This optical view has the particularity of being perforated and can thus be illuminated on the back to create an effect of passage from day to night. Some are painted on the reverse to create an illusion by making other figures appear when switching from face to back lighting. 31.7 x 42.8 cm. Condition B/C (Cut at the copper mark and some handling stains).