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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
Journal of a Voyage, in 1811 and 1812, to Madras and China - Signed and Inscribed -
James Wathen
1814 - Printed for J. Nichols, London - First Edition
With unique provenance, possibly the author’s own copy, with his name to the title page dated August, 21st, 1814, and later inscribed by Wathen to a Mr. Lane Esq. (initials too floral for us to decipher) of ‘Alfred Place, with his kind regards & best wishes from the Author. Hereford, June 21st, 1825’.
First edition of Wathen’s sumptuously illustrated and entertainingly written work, containing 24 hand-coloured aquatint plates by Clark from drawings by Wathen, consisting of seven views of India, six of Malaysia and Indonesia, nine of China and two of St. Helena.
James Wathen (1751-1828) was a glover by profession and upon retiring he travelled throughout Great Britain and Ireland, sketching, becoming a frequent contributor to publications such as Gentleman’s Magazine (where he was known as Jemmy Sketch). ‘In 1811, being prevented by the war from travelling in Europe, he accompanied Captain James Prendergast in his ship the Hope on a voyage to India and China, in which he visited Madras, Penang, Canton, Macao, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena.’ Publishing his journals, illustrated with his drawings in 1814. ‘His narrative is lively, and his account of eastern life is minute and interesting’. (Dictionary of National Biography).
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Price HK$ 30,000
1814 - Printed for J. Nichols, London - First Edition
With unique provenance, possibly the author’s own copy, with his name to the title page dated August, 21st, 1814, and later inscribed by Wathen to a Mr. Lane Esq. (initials too floral for us to decipher) of ‘Alfred Place, with his kind regards & best wishes from the Author. Hereford, June 21st, 1825’.First edition of Wathen’s sumptuously illustrated and entertainingly written work, containing 24 hand-coloured aquatint plates by Clark from drawings by Wathen, consisting of seven views of India, six of Malaysia and Indonesia, nine of China and two of St. Helena.
James Wathen (1751-1828) was a glover by profession and upon retiring he travelled throughout Great Britain and Ireland, sketching, becoming a frequent contributor to publications such as Gentleman’s Magazine (where he was known as Jemmy Sketch). ‘In 1811, being prevented by the war from travelling in Europe, he accompanied Captain James Prendergast in his ship the Hope on a voyage to India and China, in which he visited Madras, Penang, Canton, Macao, the Cape of Good Hope, and St. Helena.’ Publishing his journals, illustrated with his drawings in 1814. ‘His narrative is lively, and his account of eastern life is minute and interesting’. (Dictionary of National Biography).
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Price HK$ 30,000
Easy Lessons in Chinese: or Progressive Exercises to Facilitate the Study of that Language, especially Adapted to the Canton Dialect -
Samuel Wells Williams
1842 - Printed at the Office of the Chinese Repository, Macao - First Edition
A finely bound fiirst edition of Samuel Wells Williams’ rare ‘Easy Lessons in Chinese’. The great missionary and sinologists first published work on the Chinese language.
Illustrated with frontispiece, a folding table of characters, and the occasional vignette, in addition to numerous tables of Chinese characters and examples of Chinese text.
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Price HK$ 38,000
1842 - Printed at the Office of the Chinese Repository, Macao - First Edition
A finely bound fiirst edition of Samuel Wells Williams’ rare ‘Easy Lessons in Chinese’. The great missionary and sinologists first published work on the Chinese language.Illustrated with frontispiece, a folding table of characters, and the occasional vignette, in addition to numerous tables of Chinese characters and examples of Chinese text.
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Price HK$ 38,000