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A Description of the Empire of China and Chinese-Tartary, together with the kingdoms of Korea, and Tibet: containing the geography and history (natural as well as civil) of those countries -
Jean-Baptiste Du Halde
1738-41 - Printed by T. Gardner...for Edward Cave, London - First folio edition in English.
Two large folio volumes in contemporary bindings. One of the most celebrated of all 18th century works on China, profusely illustrated with 64 engraved plates, including D’Anville’s exceptional maps (42 large maps most engraved by Bowen), 9 city and temple plans, and 13 full-page plates depicting dress, customs and ceremonies. With exquisitely engraved headpieces and initial letters.
The completest [sic] and most valuable history of the Chinese Empire which had appeared up to the time of its publication.’ [Cox, Literature of Travel]
The maps by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville are based on the extensive Jesuit surveys carried out for the Emperor Kangxi between 1708 and 1718. These maps ‘remained the principal cartographical authority on China during the rest of the 18th century’. [Tooley]
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Price HK$ 220,000
1738-41 - Printed by T. Gardner...for Edward Cave, London - First folio edition in English.
Two large folio volumes in contemporary bindings. One of the most celebrated of all 18th century works on China, profusely illustrated with 64 engraved plates, including D’Anville’s exceptional maps (42 large maps most engraved by Bowen), 9 city and temple plans, and 13 full-page plates depicting dress, customs and ceremonies. With exquisitely engraved headpieces and initial letters.The completest [sic] and most valuable history of the Chinese Empire which had appeared up to the time of its publication.’ [Cox, Literature of Travel]
The maps by Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville are based on the extensive Jesuit surveys carried out for the Emperor Kangxi between 1708 and 1718. These maps ‘remained the principal cartographical authority on China during the rest of the 18th century’. [Tooley]
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Price HK$ 220,000
Personal Narrative of Three Years Service in China -
Lt.-Colonel Arthur A Court Fisher Royal Engineers
1863 - Richard Bentley, London - First Edition
Lt.-Colonel Fisher’s three years of service, are in Canton, the Pei-Ho River, and Taku Fort battles, throughout the Second Opium War.
Illustrated with three wood-engraved plates, engraved plan, six in-text engravings and three folding maps at rear. Scarce in the original cloth and bright gilt.
This is not one of your more dry ‘Personal Narrative’ accounts, and is very much in the ‘Personal’. Entertainingly written, one wonders if Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Agincourt Fisher was in any way related to Harry Flashman....
Lt-Colonel Fisher begins his tales with the action at the Battle of Canton in late 1857, he remains in Canton, occupying his spare time with various adventures and sport (Cricket in Hong Kong, shooting snipe and riding ponies across the Canton countryside ‘Paper-Hunt’ style), and visits to Hong Kong and islands. Fisher then moves up the Pei-Ho River and is involved with the battles around the Taku Forts, as well as surveying the ‘Great Wall’, returning once again to the skirmishes on the Pei-Ho and around Canton. After the third and final ‘Battle of Taku Forts’ at the end of August 1860, Fisher is preparing to head to Peking but is taken sick and forced to spend two months on the hospital ship ‘Mauritius’ whilst hearing news from other wounded officers of the battles around Peking and the looting of the Summer Palace. In November of 1860 Fisher’s service in China ends with his shipment back to England.
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Price HK$ 12,000
1863 - Richard Bentley, London - First Edition
Lt.-Colonel Fisher’s three years of service, are in Canton, the Pei-Ho River, and Taku Fort battles, throughout the Second Opium War.Illustrated with three wood-engraved plates, engraved plan, six in-text engravings and three folding maps at rear. Scarce in the original cloth and bright gilt.
This is not one of your more dry ‘Personal Narrative’ accounts, and is very much in the ‘Personal’. Entertainingly written, one wonders if Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Agincourt Fisher was in any way related to Harry Flashman....
Lt-Colonel Fisher begins his tales with the action at the Battle of Canton in late 1857, he remains in Canton, occupying his spare time with various adventures and sport (Cricket in Hong Kong, shooting snipe and riding ponies across the Canton countryside ‘Paper-Hunt’ style), and visits to Hong Kong and islands. Fisher then moves up the Pei-Ho River and is involved with the battles around the Taku Forts, as well as surveying the ‘Great Wall’, returning once again to the skirmishes on the Pei-Ho and around Canton. After the third and final ‘Battle of Taku Forts’ at the end of August 1860, Fisher is preparing to head to Peking but is taken sick and forced to spend two months on the hospital ship ‘Mauritius’ whilst hearing news from other wounded officers of the battles around Peking and the looting of the Summer Palace. In November of 1860 Fisher’s service in China ends with his shipment back to England.
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Price HK$ 12,000
News from Tartary: A Journey from Peking to Kashmir -
Peter Fleming
1936 - Jonathan Cape, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of one of Peter Fleming’s great travel books, in a nice example of the scarce dust jacket.
An extraordinary travel narrative in the company of Swiss adventurer Ella Maillart, crossing from Beijing through central China and into the north of the Indian subcontinent. Illustrated with 32 photographic plates including a frontispiece, and a fold-out map.
“’News from Tartary’ describes a phenomenally successful attempt that legendary adventurer Peter Fleming made to travel overland from Peking to Kashmir. The journey took seven months and covered about 3,500 miles. Motivated largely by curiosity, he set out with his companion Ella Maillart across a China torn by civil war to journey through Xinjiang to British India. It had been eight years since anyone had crossed Xinjiang; in between, those who had entered this inhospitable and politically volatile area – under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army – seldom left alive. Entering the province by a little known route and following the path of the Silk Road, they ended up in Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs to India. Beautifully written and superbly observed, this is not simply an account of a part of the world few of us will ever see, but also a marvellous insight into the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia still faced each other across a Central Asia in a state of anarchy.” [Taurus]
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Price HK$ 6,000
1936 - Jonathan Cape, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of one of Peter Fleming’s great travel books, in a nice example of the scarce dust jacket.An extraordinary travel narrative in the company of Swiss adventurer Ella Maillart, crossing from Beijing through central China and into the north of the Indian subcontinent. Illustrated with 32 photographic plates including a frontispiece, and a fold-out map.
“’News from Tartary’ describes a phenomenally successful attempt that legendary adventurer Peter Fleming made to travel overland from Peking to Kashmir. The journey took seven months and covered about 3,500 miles. Motivated largely by curiosity, he set out with his companion Ella Maillart across a China torn by civil war to journey through Xinjiang to British India. It had been eight years since anyone had crossed Xinjiang; in between, those who had entered this inhospitable and politically volatile area – under the control of a warlord supported by Stalin's Red Army – seldom left alive. Entering the province by a little known route and following the path of the Silk Road, they ended up in Kashgar before crossing the Pamirs to India. Beautifully written and superbly observed, this is not simply an account of a part of the world few of us will ever see, but also a marvellous insight into the last days of the Great Game, when Britain and Russia still faced each other across a Central Asia in a state of anarchy.” [Taurus]
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Price HK$ 6,000
Souvenir Album of China. Including Four Hundred and Fifty Original Photographs -
Charles F. Gammon
1908 - Denniston &, Shanghai - First Edition
A rare and fine early collection of over 450 photographs printed on 100 pages by Charles Frederick Gammon, with with English titles, in the original illustrated paper boards.
American missionary Charles Frederick Gammon (1870-1926) spent seventeen years in China, he was superintendent of colportage for the American Bible Society in northern China. Gammon also held a commission from the Chinese government as a military instructor at Tianjin University and served as a lieutenant with the allied armies during the Boxer Rebellion and was at the siege of Tien Tain. He returned to the United States in 1909, giving regular lectures on his time in China, and submitting articles to various journals.
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Price HK$ 8,000
1908 - Denniston &, Shanghai - First Edition
A rare and fine early collection of over 450 photographs printed on 100 pages by Charles Frederick Gammon, with with English titles, in the original illustrated paper boards.American missionary Charles Frederick Gammon (1870-1926) spent seventeen years in China, he was superintendent of colportage for the American Bible Society in northern China. Gammon also held a commission from the Chinese government as a military instructor at Tianjin University and served as a lieutenant with the allied armies during the Boxer Rebellion and was at the siege of Tien Tain. He returned to the United States in 1909, giving regular lectures on his time in China, and submitting articles to various journals.
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Price HK$ 8,000
A Chinese Biographical Dictionary -
Herbert A. Giles
1898 - Bernard Quaritch and Kelly &, London and Shanghai - First Single Volume Edition
A rare example of this classic work by the British diplomat, Chinese scholar Herbert Giles, the first edition in one volume, previously published in two volumes between 1897 and 1898. Elegantly bound in contemporary full morocco.
A massive undertaking, and the first of its kind, with 2,579 entries from the whole of Chinese history, and 40 triple-column pages of a Chinese and romanized Index prepared by Giles’ wife.
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Price HK$ 9,800
1898 - Bernard Quaritch and Kelly &, London and Shanghai - First Single Volume Edition
A rare example of this classic work by the British diplomat, Chinese scholar Herbert Giles, the first edition in one volume, previously published in two volumes between 1897 and 1898. Elegantly bound in contemporary full morocco.A massive undertaking, and the first of its kind, with 2,579 entries from the whole of Chinese history, and 40 triple-column pages of a Chinese and romanized Index prepared by Giles’ wife.
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Price HK$ 9,800
Walks in the City of Canton. With an Itinerary -
John Henry Gray, Archdeacon of Hongkong
1875 - De Souza &, Victoria - First Edition
First edition of this large and comprehensive work on Canton, by the inaugural Archdeacon of Hong Kong who was formerly the H.B.M. Consular Chaplain at Canton for over ten years, and a sympathetic, detailed observer of Chinese life.
To the rear, Gray provides 56 pages of itineraries ‘for the Service of Travellers, Visiting the City of Canton’, seven walks in total, with references to the in-depth descriptions within the text.
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Price HK$ 14,000
1875 - De Souza &, Victoria - First Edition
First edition of this large and comprehensive work on Canton, by the inaugural Archdeacon of Hong Kong who was formerly the H.B.M. Consular Chaplain at Canton for over ten years, and a sympathetic, detailed observer of Chinese life.To the rear, Gray provides 56 pages of itineraries ‘for the Service of Travellers, Visiting the City of Canton’, seven walks in total, with references to the in-depth descriptions within the text.
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Price HK$ 14,000
Morokoshi Meish -
Okada Gyokuzan, Oka Y
1806 [Bunka 3] - Kawachiya Kichibei [and 11 others], Ô - First Edition
Very scarce first edition of this magnificently illustrated six volume work on the famous places of Qing Dynasty China, with approximately 327 full-page woodblock prints (xylographic printing on mulberry paper) of which there are 135 double-page illustrations, 1 triple page illustration and three eight-page illustrations (a few of the maps being outlined in red ink). Edited and illustrated by Japanese artists Okada Gyokuzan, (1737-1812), Oka Yûgaku (1762-1833) and Ôhara Toya (1771-1840).
The text printed in Chinese and Japanese with Japanese reading marks. In original publishers blue wrappers, and housed in a custom made navy morocco leather and cloth clamshell case, titled in gilt.
The illustrations depict mostly topographical views: natural archaeological or sacred sites (the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, monasteries) and palaces, or historical and legendary scenes based on classical literature. Specifically a map of China and Korea, a map of Peking, a plan of the the Forbidden City, a fine double-page plate depicting the astronomical observatory of Peking set up by the Jesuits Johann Adam Schall and Ferdinand Verbiest, maps and views of the Great Wall and its numerous gates. There are also views of buildings no longer extant, such as the Imperial Elephant Stables.
In summary - Eleven 2-page maps, thirteen 2-page city plans, six 2-page temple plans, three 8-page scenery print, one 3-page scenery print, one-hundred and five 2-page scenery prints, thirty 1-page scenery prints, nineteen in-text prints, four pages of Chinese costume prints, two circular prints of Chinese dignitaries, one full page print of patterns, nine pages of prints of Chinese weapons, armour, and tents, four pages of prints of Chinese vessels and containers, five pages of prints of costumes and jewellery, ten pages of prints of musical instruments, two pages of prints of scales, nineteen pages of prints of modes of transport and accompanying banners and musicians, eight pages of prints of globes and other related instruments, a two page army schematic, four pages of prints of Chinese military costumes, two pages of elephant accessories, and numerous vignettes and samples of Chinese text.
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Price HK$ 110,000
1806 [Bunka 3] - Kawachiya Kichibei [and 11 others], Ô - First Edition
Very scarce first edition of this magnificently illustrated six volume work on the famous places of Qing Dynasty China, with approximately 327 full-page woodblock prints (xylographic printing on mulberry paper) of which there are 135 double-page illustrations, 1 triple page illustration and three eight-page illustrations (a few of the maps being outlined in red ink). Edited and illustrated by Japanese artists Okada Gyokuzan, (1737-1812), Oka Yûgaku (1762-1833) and Ôhara Toya (1771-1840).The text printed in Chinese and Japanese with Japanese reading marks. In original publishers blue wrappers, and housed in a custom made navy morocco leather and cloth clamshell case, titled in gilt.
The illustrations depict mostly topographical views: natural archaeological or sacred sites (the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, monasteries) and palaces, or historical and legendary scenes based on classical literature. Specifically a map of China and Korea, a map of Peking, a plan of the the Forbidden City, a fine double-page plate depicting the astronomical observatory of Peking set up by the Jesuits Johann Adam Schall and Ferdinand Verbiest, maps and views of the Great Wall and its numerous gates. There are also views of buildings no longer extant, such as the Imperial Elephant Stables.
In summary - Eleven 2-page maps, thirteen 2-page city plans, six 2-page temple plans, three 8-page scenery print, one 3-page scenery print, one-hundred and five 2-page scenery prints, thirty 1-page scenery prints, nineteen in-text prints, four pages of Chinese costume prints, two circular prints of Chinese dignitaries, one full page print of patterns, nine pages of prints of Chinese weapons, armour, and tents, four pages of prints of Chinese vessels and containers, five pages of prints of costumes and jewellery, ten pages of prints of musical instruments, two pages of prints of scales, nineteen pages of prints of modes of transport and accompanying banners and musicians, eight pages of prints of globes and other related instruments, a two page army schematic, four pages of prints of Chinese military costumes, two pages of elephant accessories, and numerous vignettes and samples of Chinese text.
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Price HK$ 110,000
Abr -
Isidore Stanislas Henri Helman (engraver), Pierre-Charles Levesque (translator), Jean-Denis Attiret (illustrator)
1786 - chez l'Auteur and M. Ponce, Paris - First Edition
A clean and unique example of this quarto, containing twenty four engraved illustrated plates, an engraved title page and twenty eight engraved plates of descriptive text in French taken from a larger work on Confucius (Pensées morales de Confucius 1782) by Pierre-Charles Levesque (who is referred to by Helman as Mr.l’Eveque).
Unique because it has exquisitely hand-written translations on contemporary sheets inserted after each illustrated plate. Most likely written by the former owner Jean Jeane Coney (born 1798).
‘Engraved by Helman [1743-1806] and drawn by Jean-Denis Attiret [1702-68], official painter to the workshop at Peking, copied from a set of Chinese miniatures which were sent by the Jesuit missionary Jean-Joseph-Pierre Amiot [1718-93] in Peking to Berlin, who was Louis XIV’s Minister of Art and the one in charge of France’s relations with China. The engravings illustrate the life and deeds of Confucius.’
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Price HK$ 25,000
1786 - chez l'Auteur and M. Ponce, Paris - First Edition
A clean and unique example of this quarto, containing twenty four engraved illustrated plates, an engraved title page and twenty eight engraved plates of descriptive text in French taken from a larger work on Confucius (Pensées morales de Confucius 1782) by Pierre-Charles Levesque (who is referred to by Helman as Mr.l’Eveque).Unique because it has exquisitely hand-written translations on contemporary sheets inserted after each illustrated plate. Most likely written by the former owner Jean Jeane Coney (born 1798).
‘Engraved by Helman [1743-1806] and drawn by Jean-Denis Attiret [1702-68], official painter to the workshop at Peking, copied from a set of Chinese miniatures which were sent by the Jesuit missionary Jean-Joseph-Pierre Amiot [1718-93] in Peking to Berlin, who was Louis XIV’s Minister of Art and the one in charge of France’s relations with China. The engravings illustrate the life and deeds of Confucius.’
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Price HK$ 25,000