Like postcards, costume books could remind travelers of past voyages, or offer untraveled readers access to faraway lands. These books emphasize the settings in which peoples of various regions might be encountered, placing costumed figures into scenes representative of lifestyles and occupations viewed as culturally distinctive. The costumes featured in these works serve as emblems of national or regional character.

 

Sketches Illustrative of the Manners and Costumes of France, Switzerland, and Italy. (London, 1821)

The Costume of China. (London, 1804)