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Narrative of the Burmese War - Inscribed - Detailing the Operations of Major-General Sir Archibald Campbell’s Army, from its Landing at Rangoon in May 1824, to the Conclusion of a Treaty of Peace at Yandaboo, in February 1826 -
Major J. J. Snodgrass
1827 - John Murray, London - First Edition
Scarce first edition of this important first hand military account of the first Burma war by Sir Archibald Campbell’s Military Secretary and son-in-law, in contemporary binding.
Inscribed by Major Snodgrass 'To His Royal Highness the Duke of York, This volume is most respectfully presented by The Author'.
With a large folding engraved map Burmese Empire [46 x 40 cm], two wood-engraved illustrations titled ‘Bandoola’s Look-Out Tree at Donoobew - Mounting Four Guns’ and ‘Meeting of the British and Burmese Commissioners at Neoun-Ben-Zeik. Principal Figure: The Kee-Wongee’.
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Price HK$ 10,000
1827 - John Murray, London - First Edition
Scarce first edition of this important first hand military account of the first Burma war by Sir Archibald Campbell’s Military Secretary and son-in-law, in contemporary binding.Inscribed by Major Snodgrass 'To His Royal Highness the Duke of York, This volume is most respectfully presented by The Author'.
With a large folding engraved map Burmese Empire [46 x 40 cm], two wood-engraved illustrations titled ‘Bandoola’s Look-Out Tree at Donoobew - Mounting Four Guns’ and ‘Meeting of the British and Burmese Commissioners at Neoun-Ben-Zeik. Principal Figure: The Kee-Wongee’.
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Price HK$ 10,000
Sketches of Chinese Life & Character -
William R. Snow
1860 - Dickinson Bros., 114
A rare large folio of 17 hand-coloured lithographic plates by M. & N. Hanhart from sketches by William R. Snow. Some plates heightened with gum-arabic. Originally sold in three parts, probably loose for ease of framing, and housed in wrappers. It may be assumed that the plate of ‘The Game of Shuttlecock’ was used for that purpose as it is not included here. The three sets of original wrappers have been bound in, and the plate titles are as follows:
Part I.
Going to a Picnic, Mode of Travelling A Long Journey in China.
Rival Caravans, The Desert of To Day.
A Clean Shave.
A Slap on the Back, More Pleasant Than it Looks.
How This Little Pig Went to Market.
Ye Civil Force.
Part II.
Costermongers - Victoria Street, Hong Kong (named as ‘Canton’ in the Plate List).
Chinese funeral - Mode of Carrying the Coffin.
Musicians and Flag Bearers in Advance of a Funeral.
Sketch from the Wall on the Morning after the Grand Attack.
Dinner Hour of a Chinese Family on Board a Chop on the Canton River.
Part III.
On the Wall, Canton.
A Group of Coolies at a Portable Soup Kitchen.
Military Train Coolies Going Home.
Sketch of a Mandarin, Grand Stand Canton.
Astonishment of Ye Natives at Red Hair.
A Group of Coolies on the Road at Dinner.
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Price HK$ 140,000
1860 - Dickinson Bros., 114
A rare large folio of 17 hand-coloured lithographic plates by M. & N. Hanhart from sketches by William R. Snow. Some plates heightened with gum-arabic. Originally sold in three parts, probably loose for ease of framing, and housed in wrappers. It may be assumed that the plate of ‘The Game of Shuttlecock’ was used for that purpose as it is not included here. The three sets of original wrappers have been bound in, and the plate titles are as follows:Part I.
Going to a Picnic, Mode of Travelling A Long Journey in China.
Rival Caravans, The Desert of To Day.
A Clean Shave.
A Slap on the Back, More Pleasant Than it Looks.
How This Little Pig Went to Market.
Ye Civil Force.
Part II.
Costermongers - Victoria Street, Hong Kong (named as ‘Canton’ in the Plate List).
Chinese funeral - Mode of Carrying the Coffin.
Musicians and Flag Bearers in Advance of a Funeral.
Sketch from the Wall on the Morning after the Grand Attack.
Dinner Hour of a Chinese Family on Board a Chop on the Canton River.
Part III.
On the Wall, Canton.
A Group of Coolies at a Portable Soup Kitchen.
Military Train Coolies Going Home.
Sketch of a Mandarin, Grand Stand Canton.
Astonishment of Ye Natives at Red Hair.
A Group of Coolies on the Road at Dinner.
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Price HK$ 140,000
An Authentic Account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China -
Sir George Staunton, Earl of Macartney, Sir Erasmus Gower
1797 - Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for G, London - First Edition
A majestic set of this cornerstone of China related travel literature in contemporary bindings, together with the magnificent Elephant Folio Atlas showing forty-four engraved maps and plates (mainly after Alexander, of which one is folding and six are double-page.
‘An account of the first British embassy to China, under Lord Macartney. Great Britain was anxious to establish formal diplomatic relations with China and thus open the way for unimpeded trade relations, but centuries of Chinese reserve and self-sufficiency presented a formidable obstacle to the embassy, and the Chinese emperor effectually resisted Lord Macartney’s arguments and gifts. The visit of the British embassy nonetheless resulted in this remarkable account of Chinese manners and customs at the close of the eighteenth century’ - The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages.
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Price HK$ 120,000
1797 - Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for G, London - First Edition
A majestic set of this cornerstone of China related travel literature in contemporary bindings, together with the magnificent Elephant Folio Atlas showing forty-four engraved maps and plates (mainly after Alexander, of which one is folding and six are double-page.‘An account of the first British embassy to China, under Lord Macartney. Great Britain was anxious to establish formal diplomatic relations with China and thus open the way for unimpeded trade relations, but centuries of Chinese reserve and self-sufficiency presented a formidable obstacle to the embassy, and the Chinese emperor effectually resisted Lord Macartney’s arguments and gifts. The visit of the British embassy nonetheless resulted in this remarkable account of Chinese manners and customs at the close of the eighteenth century’ - The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages.
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Price HK$ 120,000
An Embassy to the Kingdom of Ava -
Michael Symes
1800 - W. Bulmer and Co., London - First Edition
‘The first full account of Burma to be published and it contains a mass of information on the history, religion, government, social systems, language, geography and economy of Burma, together with a narrative of Symes’ seven months stay in Burma, his journey to the capital and reception at court.’
A handsome first edition, finely illustrated with two folding engraved maps, eighteen engraved plates, and eight engraved botanical plates (four of which are folding).
Michael Symes was sent by Sir John Shore, Governor-General of India, to obtain from the Emperor of Ava a permit to allow a British agent to reside at Rangoon, and to induce him to close his borders to French shipping. In diplomatic terms Symes’ mission was a success.
‘Symes was accompanied by Dr. Francis Buchanan and his Account contains eight botanical plates and descriptions of ‘the most rare and curious’ plants he collected. Other illustrations are taken from drawings by the Indian artist Singey Bey who accompanied the mission and whose accurate representational style attracted some attention at the Burmese court.’
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Price HK$ 20,000
1800 - W. Bulmer and Co., London - First Edition
‘The first full account of Burma to be published and it contains a mass of information on the history, religion, government, social systems, language, geography and economy of Burma, together with a narrative of Symes’ seven months stay in Burma, his journey to the capital and reception at court.’A handsome first edition, finely illustrated with two folding engraved maps, eighteen engraved plates, and eight engraved botanical plates (four of which are folding).
Michael Symes was sent by Sir John Shore, Governor-General of India, to obtain from the Emperor of Ava a permit to allow a British agent to reside at Rangoon, and to induce him to close his borders to French shipping. In diplomatic terms Symes’ mission was a success.
‘Symes was accompanied by Dr. Francis Buchanan and his Account contains eight botanical plates and descriptions of ‘the most rare and curious’ plants he collected. Other illustrations are taken from drawings by the Indian artist Singey Bey who accompanied the mission and whose accurate representational style attracted some attention at the Burmese court.’
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Price HK$ 20,000
The Red Pavilion - Inscribed -
Robert H. Van Gulik
1961 - Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur - First Edition
A bright sharp copy of this rare first edition, with hand-written dedication by Van Gulik, dated February 1962.
One of three Judge Dee titles first published in Kuala Lumpur, whilst Van Gulik was stationed there as Dutch Ambassador to the federation of Malaya. The tenth book in the Judge Dee series, and chronologically fourteenth tale, being set in China 670 AD.
With six illustrations from woodblock prints, and endpapers illustrated with a Sketch Map of Paradise Island, in Chinese style by Van Gulik.
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Price HK$ 15,000
1961 - Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur - First Edition
A bright sharp copy of this rare first edition, with hand-written dedication by Van Gulik, dated February 1962.One of three Judge Dee titles first published in Kuala Lumpur, whilst Van Gulik was stationed there as Dutch Ambassador to the federation of Malaya. The tenth book in the Judge Dee series, and chronologically fourteenth tale, being set in China 670 AD.
With six illustrations from woodblock prints, and endpapers illustrated with a Sketch Map of Paradise Island, in Chinese style by Van Gulik.
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Price HK$ 15,000
New Year's Eve in Lan-fang -
Robert H. Van Gulik
1958 - By the Author, Printed by “Imprimerie Catholique” Beirut - One of only 200 printed
An exceptional fine uncut and unopened example of the rarest Van Gulik Judge Dee titles, with fine provenance, being inscribed to the great German sinologist Dr. Wolfgang Franke and signed ‘R. H. van Gulik, Beirut, May ‘59’.
‘One of these beautifully printed booklets happened to come my way, finding my hand on an Amsterdam street stall. It numbers 32 pages and is called New Year’s Eve in Lan-fang. Printed in Beirut, on high quality paper, with perfect binding and an elegant lettertype, it may have been created by a monk, moonlighting in the ‘Imprimerie catholique.’ The illustrations were drawn by van Gulik himself–consisting of two stylized Chinese characters (each in one unbroken line), the one [on the title page] meaning Fu (to be happy) and the one [on last page of the story] saying Shou (long life). Together the two symbols form the traditional Chinese wish for a Happy New Year.’ - from the final page of Janwillem van de Wetering’s ‘Robert van Gulik. His Life, His Work’.
This rare, small (17.5 x 11 cm), thirty two page booklet, was produced by Van Gulik and sent out as a New Year’s greeting for 1959, whilst posted as Dutch envoy to Syria and Lebanon. In addition to the two red Chinese characters referred to by van Wetering, there is a full page frontispiece from a woodblock print by Van Gulik.
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Price HK$ 25,000
1958 - By the Author, Printed by “Imprimerie Catholique” Beirut - One of only 200 printed
An exceptional fine uncut and unopened example of the rarest Van Gulik Judge Dee titles, with fine provenance, being inscribed to the great German sinologist Dr. Wolfgang Franke and signed ‘R. H. van Gulik, Beirut, May ‘59’.‘One of these beautifully printed booklets happened to come my way, finding my hand on an Amsterdam street stall. It numbers 32 pages and is called New Year’s Eve in Lan-fang. Printed in Beirut, on high quality paper, with perfect binding and an elegant lettertype, it may have been created by a monk, moonlighting in the ‘Imprimerie catholique.’ The illustrations were drawn by van Gulik himself–consisting of two stylized Chinese characters (each in one unbroken line), the one [on the title page] meaning Fu (to be happy) and the one [on last page of the story] saying Shou (long life). Together the two symbols form the traditional Chinese wish for a Happy New Year.’ - from the final page of Janwillem van de Wetering’s ‘Robert van Gulik. His Life, His Work’.
This rare, small (17.5 x 11 cm), thirty two page booklet, was produced by Van Gulik and sent out as a New Year’s greeting for 1959, whilst posted as Dutch envoy to Syria and Lebanon. In addition to the two red Chinese characters referred to by van Wetering, there is a full page frontispiece from a woodblock print by Van Gulik.
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Price HK$ 25,000
Dee Goong An -
Robert H. Van Gulik
1949 - Toppan Printing Company, Tokyo - Number 567 of the First Edition, limited to 1, 200 copies
A superior first edition of Van Gulik’s translation of the eighteenth century Chinese detective story Dee Goong An, and the inspiration for his own Judge Dee detective novels. Privately printed, signed and sealed by Van Gulik, issued in a limited edition of 1200 and bound in an original woodblock print. Illustrated with three reproductions of original Chinese pictures (one tinted), and six plates from woodblocks by Van Gulik.
‘Nobody knows who wrote the Dee Goong An. The book appeared in the eighteenth century, and was a true whodunit, preceding the genre in the West. Van Gulik found his first copy in Chungking, in a library that was being saved from Japanese bombing. Enthused by its fascinating plots Van Gulik made enquiries and found that the book had been in print for hundreds of years. It would be the foundation for his own lengthy series, but he didn’t know that as he ran about, gathering information on the historical judge [630-700) Ti Jen-chieh, who started his career as magistrate and finished as a minister of state. As a novel the book was great but it had also considerable value as a historical source, supplying more information about the (in)famous Dynasty of T’ang.
Van Gulik immediately took care of doing an English translation and passed the manuscript (1949) to his acquaintances in Japan. Everyone showed enthusiasm so he risked a private printing of 1200 copies.’ - from Janwillem Van De Wetering’s Robert Van Gulik, His Life, His Work.
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Price HK$ 19,000
1949 - Toppan Printing Company, Tokyo - Number 567 of the First Edition, limited to 1, 200 copies
A superior first edition of Van Gulik’s translation of the eighteenth century Chinese detective story Dee Goong An, and the inspiration for his own Judge Dee detective novels. Privately printed, signed and sealed by Van Gulik, issued in a limited edition of 1200 and bound in an original woodblock print. Illustrated with three reproductions of original Chinese pictures (one tinted), and six plates from woodblocks by Van Gulik.‘Nobody knows who wrote the Dee Goong An. The book appeared in the eighteenth century, and was a true whodunit, preceding the genre in the West. Van Gulik found his first copy in Chungking, in a library that was being saved from Japanese bombing. Enthused by its fascinating plots Van Gulik made enquiries and found that the book had been in print for hundreds of years. It would be the foundation for his own lengthy series, but he didn’t know that as he ran about, gathering information on the historical judge [630-700) Ti Jen-chieh, who started his career as magistrate and finished as a minister of state. As a novel the book was great but it had also considerable value as a historical source, supplying more information about the (in)famous Dynasty of T’ang.
Van Gulik immediately took care of doing an English translation and passed the manuscript (1949) to his acquaintances in Japan. Everyone showed enthusiasm so he risked a private printing of 1200 copies.’ - from Janwillem Van De Wetering’s Robert Van Gulik, His Life, His Work.
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Price HK$ 19,000
Shadow Plays of Peking -
Wang Hsun, Lu Ching Ta (Lu Jing Da)
1953 - People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Peking - First Edition
A large (52 x 38 cm) and rare silk bound and tied folio, presenting the history of Sung Dynasty (A.D. 960-1279) shadow play, with 15 stunning full page colour lithographs of Chinese shadow puppets by Lu Ching-ta, and an introduction by Wang Hsu, text in Chinese, together with loose eight page pamphlet giving the title and full introduction in English, and detailed description of each illustration, and in the original dust jacket.
Edited by the Department of Applied Arts, Central Institute of Fine Arts, Beijing.
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Price HK$ 13,000
1953 - People's Fine Arts Publishing House, Peking - First Edition
A large (52 x 38 cm) and rare silk bound and tied folio, presenting the history of Sung Dynasty (A.D. 960-1279) shadow play, with 15 stunning full page colour lithographs of Chinese shadow puppets by Lu Ching-ta, and an introduction by Wang Hsu, text in Chinese, together with loose eight page pamphlet giving the title and full introduction in English, and detailed description of each illustration, and in the original dust jacket.Edited by the Department of Applied Arts, Central Institute of Fine Arts, Beijing.
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Price HK$ 13,000