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On a Chinese Screen -
William Somerset Maugham
1922 - William Heinemann, London - First English Edition
First edition of Maugham’s collection of sketches on China.
Maugham spent the winter months of 1919 travelling fifteen hundred miles up the Yangtze river, with what are clearly long stops in Shanghai and Hong Kong amongst other treaty ports. Always more interested in people than places, he noted down acute and finely crafted sketches of those he met on countless scraps of paper.
In the resulting collection we encounter Western missionaries, army officers and company managers who are culturally out of their depth in the immensity of the Chinese civilisation. Maugham keenly observes, and gently ridicules, their dogged and oblivious persistence with the life they know. In total 58 sketches.
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Price HK$ 15,000
1922 - William Heinemann, London - First English Edition
First edition of Maugham’s collection of sketches on China.Maugham spent the winter months of 1919 travelling fifteen hundred miles up the Yangtze river, with what are clearly long stops in Shanghai and Hong Kong amongst other treaty ports. Always more interested in people than places, he noted down acute and finely crafted sketches of those he met on countless scraps of paper.
In the resulting collection we encounter Western missionaries, army officers and company managers who are culturally out of their depth in the immensity of the Chinese civilisation. Maugham keenly observes, and gently ridicules, their dogged and oblivious persistence with the life they know. In total 58 sketches.
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Price HK$ 15,000
Shanghai Paper Hunt Club - A Short Resume of the Season 1929-1930. -
Major E. H. McMichael
1930 - North-China Daily News & Herald Ltd., Shanghai - First and Only Edition
An extremely rare and fine little one-off production, only printed for this particular season. As explained in the foreword ‘For certain reasons it was deemed undesirable to publish the accounts of the past Season’s Hunts in the daily press, but in order that a complete record of the sport during 1929-30 might be preserved for future reference, the Stewards considered that it would be much appreciated, both by members and friends, if some account of the Hunts held could be published in pamphlet form.’ Why it was ‘deemed undesirable’ they do not explain.
A fine copy illustrated with 20 photographs and two sketches. The resume covers nine Paper Hunts and three Handicap races from November 24th, 1929 to February 23rd, 1930. With a list of events for the Shanghai Hounds’ Drag Hunts Season of 1929-30 to the rear.
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Price HK$ 9,000
1930 - North-China Daily News & Herald Ltd., Shanghai - First and Only Edition
An extremely rare and fine little one-off production, only printed for this particular season. As explained in the foreword ‘For certain reasons it was deemed undesirable to publish the accounts of the past Season’s Hunts in the daily press, but in order that a complete record of the sport during 1929-30 might be preserved for future reference, the Stewards considered that it would be much appreciated, both by members and friends, if some account of the Hunts held could be published in pamphlet form.’ Why it was ‘deemed undesirable’ they do not explain.A fine copy illustrated with 20 photographs and two sketches. The resume covers nine Paper Hunts and three Handicap races from November 24th, 1929 to February 23rd, 1930. With a list of events for the Shanghai Hounds’ Drag Hunts Season of 1929-30 to the rear.
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Price HK$ 9,000
Glimpses of China. A Series of Vandyck Photogravures illustrating Chinese life and surroundings -
Donald Mennie
Circa 1920 - A. S. Watson & Co. Ltd., 16 Nanking Road - First Edition
A clean and superior example of this work by the Scottish born Donald Mennie, published by A. S. Watson in Shanghai.
Presenting thirty large photogravure plates tipped onto a dark brown background each with Mennie’s personal descriptive text.
In the publisher’s original card wrappers, without soiling, stains, chips or foxing, scarce as such.
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Price HK$ 12,000
Circa 1920 - A. S. Watson & Co. Ltd., 16 Nanking Road - First Edition
A clean and superior example of this work by the Scottish born Donald Mennie, published by A. S. Watson in Shanghai.Presenting thirty large photogravure plates tipped onto a dark brown background each with Mennie’s personal descriptive text.
In the publisher’s original card wrappers, without soiling, stains, chips or foxing, scarce as such.
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Price HK$ 12,000
China North & South. A Series of Vandyck Photogravures illustrating the picturesque aspect of Chinese life and surroundings -
Donald Mennie
Circa 1920 - A. S. Watson & Co. Ltd., 16 Nanking Road - First Edition
A clean and superior example of this work by the Scottish born Donald Mennie, published by A. S. Watson in Shanghai.
The first edition, in the publisher’s original card wrappers, without chips or foxing, scarce as such.
Presenting thirty large photogravure plates tipped onto a dark green background each with Mennie’s personal descriptive text.
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Price HK$ 18,000
Circa 1920 - A. S. Watson & Co. Ltd., 16 Nanking Road - First Edition
A clean and superior example of this work by the Scottish born Donald Mennie, published by A. S. Watson in Shanghai.The first edition, in the publisher’s original card wrappers, without chips or foxing, scarce as such.
Presenting thirty large photogravure plates tipped onto a dark green background each with Mennie’s personal descriptive text.
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Price HK$ 18,000
An Old Chinese Garden. A Three-fold Masterpiece of Poetry, Calligraphy and Painting -
Wen Chen Ming, Kate Kerby and Mo Zung Chung
1923 - Chung Hwa Book Company, Shanghai - First Edition
Rare and large presentation of poetry and calligraphy by ‘Wen Chen Ming [Wen Zhengming], famous landscape artist of the Ming Dynasty’, with ‘studies written by Kate Kerby’, translations by Mo Zung Chung, and a two page introduction by her husband Philip Kerby.
Representing a fusion of painting, calligraphy, and pastoral poetry honouring the tradition of Chinese landscape design. Illustrated with eighty eight finely printed plates, consisting of thirty three calligraphy plates of poems matched to thirty three plates of paintings, eleven individual plates of calligraphy, one calligraphic title page.
Printed on thin handmade mulberry paper, with separate sheets of translations, descriptions, and title pages, all separated by blank sheets, and one additional facsimile letter of appreciation from Frank B. Noyes, President of The Associated Press, Hong Kong.
Housed in the publisher’s original and delicate blue silk covers, bound in Chinese style with gilt braided ties, and separate art-deco gilt braided bookmark, usually lacking.
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Price HK$ 9,000
1923 - Chung Hwa Book Company, Shanghai - First Edition
Rare and large presentation of poetry and calligraphy by ‘Wen Chen Ming [Wen Zhengming], famous landscape artist of the Ming Dynasty’, with ‘studies written by Kate Kerby’, translations by Mo Zung Chung, and a two page introduction by her husband Philip Kerby.Representing a fusion of painting, calligraphy, and pastoral poetry honouring the tradition of Chinese landscape design. Illustrated with eighty eight finely printed plates, consisting of thirty three calligraphy plates of poems matched to thirty three plates of paintings, eleven individual plates of calligraphy, one calligraphic title page.
Printed on thin handmade mulberry paper, with separate sheets of translations, descriptions, and title pages, all separated by blank sheets, and one additional facsimile letter of appreciation from Frank B. Noyes, President of The Associated Press, Hong Kong.
Housed in the publisher’s original and delicate blue silk covers, bound in Chinese style with gilt braided ties, and separate art-deco gilt braided bookmark, usually lacking.
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Price HK$ 9,000
Soochow: The Garden City -
F. R. Nance
1936 - Kelly & Walsh, Shanghai - First Edition
A fine and exemplary example of this beautifully illustrated guide to the ‘Garden City’.
With twenty four black and white photographic plates of photographs by H. C. Wong and four folding maps, as well as a Map of the Waterways Around Soochow highlighted in green and used as endpapers.
Florence Rush Nance (1875-1940) was an American teacher of mathematics and chemistry at the McTyeire School for Young Ladies in Shanghai (now the Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School). She was the first woman to receive a degree in science from Vanderbilt. Nance also taught at Soochow University where her husband was President.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1936 - Kelly & Walsh, Shanghai - First Edition
A fine and exemplary example of this beautifully illustrated guide to the ‘Garden City’. With twenty four black and white photographic plates of photographs by H. C. Wong and four folding maps, as well as a Map of the Waterways Around Soochow highlighted in green and used as endpapers.
Florence Rush Nance (1875-1940) was an American teacher of mathematics and chemistry at the McTyeire School for Young Ladies in Shanghai (now the Shanghai No. 3 Girls' High School). She was the first woman to receive a degree in science from Vanderbilt. Nance also taught at Soochow University where her husband was President.
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Price HK$ 6,000
An Embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperour of China -
Johan Nieuhoff, John Ogilby
1669 - Printed by John Macock for the Author, London - First Edition in English
One of the great 17th century works on China, translated and published by John Ogilby, noteworthy not only for the text, bringing notice of the mysteries of the East to English readers, but for the magnificent engraved illustrations and plates.
In contemporary full calf and profusely illustrated throughout with portrait frontispiece, added pictorial title-page (signed in the plate by Wenceslaus Hollar), double page map of China, 17 copper-engraved plates (on 16 pages); double-page plan of Canton; 120 copper-engravings in the text; and numerous decorative motifs.
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Price HK$ 125,000
1669 - Printed by John Macock for the Author, London - First Edition in English
One of the great 17th century works on China, translated and published by John Ogilby, noteworthy not only for the text, bringing notice of the mysteries of the East to English readers, but for the magnificent engraved illustrations and plates.In contemporary full calf and profusely illustrated throughout with portrait frontispiece, added pictorial title-page (signed in the plate by Wenceslaus Hollar), double page map of China, 17 copper-engraved plates (on 16 pages); double-page plan of Canton; 120 copper-engravings in the text; and numerous decorative motifs.
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Price HK$ 125,000
Maskee - A Shanghai Sketchbook by Schiff - Signed -
Friedrich Schiff
Circa 1938Shanghai - First Edition. Number A458 of an unspecified Limited Edition
Fabulously Shanghai Art-Deco 15 foot (4.6 metres) long accordion folio in the original silk covers.
Folding out to show 21 illustrated panels hand-coloured by Friedrich Schiff. Each panel depicting a view of 1930’s expatriate life in Shanghai through the unique eyes of Schiff. More a folio of art-deco artwork than a book, although many of the panels include amusing comments and rhymes for example:
Miss Shanghai
Me No Worry – Me No Care!
Me Go Marry Millionaire!
If He Die – Me No Cry!
Me Go Marry Other Guy!!
Signed to the first panel by Friedrich Schiff (1908-68), an Austrian Jewish artist who moved to Shanghai in 1930 after an invite to visit from a cousin and lived there for 17 years. He had worked as a newspaper cartoonist in Vienna and continued this line of work in Shanghai, soon becoming famous for his amusing caricatures of the city's inhabitants. Prolific, Schiff’s cartoons appeared in books, newspapers, magazines and advertisements throughout China and the Far East, and collaborations with Ellen Thorbecke (Peking Studies; People in China; Hong Kong; and Shanghai).
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Price HK$ 20,000
Circa 1938Shanghai - First Edition. Number A458 of an unspecified Limited Edition
Fabulously Shanghai Art-Deco 15 foot (4.6 metres) long accordion folio in the original silk covers.Folding out to show 21 illustrated panels hand-coloured by Friedrich Schiff. Each panel depicting a view of 1930’s expatriate life in Shanghai through the unique eyes of Schiff. More a folio of art-deco artwork than a book, although many of the panels include amusing comments and rhymes for example:
Miss Shanghai
Me No Worry – Me No Care!
Me Go Marry Millionaire!
If He Die – Me No Cry!
Me Go Marry Other Guy!!
Signed to the first panel by Friedrich Schiff (1908-68), an Austrian Jewish artist who moved to Shanghai in 1930 after an invite to visit from a cousin and lived there for 17 years. He had worked as a newspaper cartoonist in Vienna and continued this line of work in Shanghai, soon becoming famous for his amusing caricatures of the city's inhabitants. Prolific, Schiff’s cartoons appeared in books, newspapers, magazines and advertisements throughout China and the Far East, and collaborations with Ellen Thorbecke (Peking Studies; People in China; Hong Kong; and Shanghai).
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Price HK$ 20,000