CHINESE

[Napier of Merchistoun: William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier of Merchistoun.] Long Autograph Letter Signed ‘To Colonel Napier / Royal Artillery’ [Charles Napier?], regarding genealogical matters, and with a Royal Navy reminiscence.

Author: 
Lord Napier of Merchistoun [William John Napier, 9th Lord Napier (1786-1834), Royal Navy officer and Chief Superintendant of Trade in China [Col. Charles Napier (d.1849), Royal Artillery?]
Publication details: 
‘Thirlestane - Selkirk Decr 19 / 1831’.
£220.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient is presumably the Captain Charles Napier (d.1849) of the Royal Artillery who ‘received eight wounds from the bursting of a shrapnel shell’ at Waterloo (see Dalton’s ‘Waterloo Roll Call’, p.194). 8pp, 4to. Closely and neatly written on two bifoliums. In good condition, lightly aged, but folded three times into a packet, and with some closed tears to the creases. Addressed ‘To Colonel Napier / Royal Artillery’ and with the valediction ‘I will now bid you adieu & subscribe myself / Yr very faithful Kinsman / Napier’.

[Lady Hosie [Dorothea Hosie], amateur film maker and writer on China.] Autograph Letter Signed (‘Dorothy [sic] Hosie’) to ‘Mr. Burdett’, describing reviews she is writing and the critical response to her ‘Portrait of a Chinese Lady’.

Author: 
Lady Hosie [Dorothea Hosie, née Soothill] (1885-1959), amateur film maker and writer on China, wife of the diplomat and explorer Sir Alexander Hosie (1853-1925)
Publication details: 
11 December 1929. 4 Bradmore Road, Oxford.
£90.00

For information about the Lady Hosie and her husband see his entry in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice for postage, and with a minor closed tear to edge of fold at head of leaf. Addressed to ‘Dear Mr. Burdett’ and signed ‘Dorothy [sic] Hosie’. Forty-one lines of closely-written text. The letter concerns a review she has written for a periodical whose title is difficult to decipher (‘The L[?]’). She was ‘going to type out a fair copy’, but thinks Burdett ‘may like it at once’. If he feels ‘portions of it unsuitable’, he ‘can then delete’. ‘Mr.

[‘His knowledge of Marxist philosophy is zero’: a Maoist attack on the sinologist Joseph Needham.] Printed pamphlet by A. H. Evans titled: ‘Against Dr. Needham / An Exposure of his Anti-Marxism’.

Author: 
A. H. Evans [Arthur Henry Evans (b. 1902)], Anti-Revisionist Maoist Welsh communist and poet, proprietor of David-Goliath Publications [Joseph Needham (1900-1995), biochemist and sinologist]
Publication details: 
‘A David-Goliath Publication’ [‘Enquiries to: - A. H. Evans, 27, Gerrard Road, London, N.1.].
£180.00

A. H. Evans was born in the village of Aber Clydach, near Talybont on Usk, Breconshire. He gives biographical information in his ‘English Historians and Welsh History’ (1975). See also Needham's entry in the Oxford DNB. The present item is excessively scarce: no other copy found on OCLC WorldCat, JISC, ViaLibri or the National Library of Wales.

[Sir Claude MacDonald, soldier and diplomat in the far east; Japan] Two Autograph Letters in the third person to the Lord Mayor of London [Sir John Charles Bell], accepting luncheon invitations, one to meet ‘Prince Fushimi of Japan’.

Author: 
Sir Claude Macdonald [Colonel Sir Claude Maxwell MacDonald (1852-1915), soldier and diplomat, British Minister to China and Korea, Consul-General to Japan [Prince Fushimi Sadanaru (1858-1923)]
Publication details: 
One on 8 March 1907; from 43 Augusta Gardens, Folkestone [Kent]. The other without date, but from May 1907; on letterhead of the United Service Club [London].
£90.00

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. Both items 1p, 12mo, and both in good condition, lightly aged, with slight evidence of previous mounting on the blank reverses. Both folded once for postage. Both letters during the tenure as Lord Mayor of London of Sir John Charles Bell (1843-1924). ONE (8 March 1907): ‘Sir Claude Macdonald has the honour to accept the kind invitation of the Lord Mayor to Luncheon on March 13th.

[Tsingtao [Qingdao] during the Second Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945.] Ten long Autograph Letters Signed from Malcolm H. Young, English agent, to his sister Celia, describing conditions during Japanese occupation.

Author: 
[Tsingtao [Qingdao] during the Second Sino-Japanese War, 1937-1945)] Malcolm H. Young, English agent at Tsingtao [Quingdao], China, during the Japanese occupation
Publication details: 
Three from 1937 (18 January, 28 November and 10 December); seven from 1938 (13, 20 and 27 February, 6 March, 7 April, 6 May and 13 November). All addressed from ‘P.O. Box 286. Tsingtao. China / via Siberia’.
£450.00

A good well-written correspondence, painting a good picture of the day-to-day life of an English expatriate in the occupied city. Letters are signed ‘Malcolm’ and (once) ‘Mac’. Young names himself in valedictions as Celia’s brother. He does not sign with his surname, which can however be deduced from the combination of postscripts signed ‘M H Y’; and Celia being named in the endorsement to one letter as ‘C. G. Young’. He is is presumably ‘Malcolm H. Young, agent’, who features in the Tsingtao / Hong Kong List for 1941.

[Robert Lockhart Hobson, Keeper of the Department of Ceramics and Ethnography at the British Museum.] Autograph Letter Signed to Wilfred Seymour De Winton, describing the process of reopening the Museum in the wake of the Great War.

Author: 
R. L. Hobson [Robert Lockhart Hobson], ceramicist and cataloguer, Keeper of the Department of Ceramics and Ethnography at the British Museum and President of the Oriental Ceramic Society [De Winton of
Publication details: 
24 December 1918; on letterhead of the British Museum, London.
£45.00

See his obituaries in The Times, Burlington Magazine and elsewhere. Casting light on the process of reopening the British Museum in the wake of the Great War. From the papers of the recipient, Wilfred Seymour De Winton of Haverfordwest and Cardiff. 1p, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly worn and creased. Signed ‘R. L. Hobson’ and addressed to ‘Dear Mr. de Winton’. He has been ‘back at the Museum about 3 weeks & most of that has been spent in helping to get ready for the public some of the more accessible galleries’.

[Oriental Customs and Manners, as viewed in Georgian England.] Two original hand-coloured copperplate engravings, both published in London by John Joseph Stockdale, and both ‘A Freschi sculpsit’: ‘INDIAN INK’ and ‘MONKEYS GATHERING TEA.’

Author: 
Andrea Freschi (1774-1815), Italian engraver active in London [John Joseph Stockdale (c.1770-1847), London publisher and pornographer [Oriental customs and manners]
Publication details: 
One of the two ‘Pubd. 25 April 1812 by I. I. Stockdale [i.e. John Joseph Stockdale], 41 Pall Mall’. The other from same period.
£40.00

Two attractive small original hand-coloured copperplate engravings. Both in good condition, lightly aged, and each with slight traces of previous mount on blank reverse. ONE: Captioned at foot ‘A Freschi sculpsit | MONKEYS GATHERING TEA. | Pubd. 25 April 1812 by H. Stockdale, 41 Pall Mall’. Portrait: 10.5 x 17.5 cm. Depicts a Chinese man beneath a tree taking leaves from a monkey on the ground, whilst three other monkeys in the tree collect more leaves. TWO: Captioned at foot ‘A Freschi sculpsit | INDIAN INK.’ No place or date. Landscape: 17.5 x 10.5 cm. Depicts three men preparing the ink.

[Hesing Xi Cheng or Sheng, Captain of the Keying, Chinese Junk] Signed 8vo portrait drawing of Hesing, known as Xi Cheng. WITH

Author: 
[Hesing; Voyage to England and New York from China, 1846-8]
Hesing
Publication details: 
[c.1848]
£250.00
Hesing

Signed `Hesing´ in bold black ink at the foot beneath his portrait, also adding the junk's name `Keying´ and the name `Suckling´ [not traced] to the portrait, all with their equivalent Chinese characters beneath. Quite heavily foxed, mainly around not on the image and signatures, top left corner torn off (a red ink stamp might have been there as in other examples, with Chinese characters, being the seal of Prince Hui Rui, but other examples would not have fitted in the lost corner). See image.

[Quo Tai-chi [Quo Taichi], Chinese Ambassador to London.] Autograph Signature ['Autograph | Quo Tai-chi'.

Author: 
Quo Tai-chi [Quo Taichi] (1888-1952), Kuomintang Chinese Ambassador to London, 1932-1940
Publication details: 
No date or place [1930s?].
£45.00

On 6 x 11 cm piece of paper, laid down on slightly larger piece of grey paper cut from an album. In good condition, lightly aged. The only writing, in a large firm hand, is 'Autograph | Quo Tai-chi'. At the head of the mount, in a contemporary hand: 'Quo-Tai-Chi (Dr) Chinese Ambassador in London'.

[Anthony Grey, novelist and journalist.] Five Signed Letters, three in Autograph and two Typed, to playwright Christopher Fry, with material relating to his organisation Hostage Action Worldwide.

Author: 
Anthony Grey (born 1938), novelist, journalist and author, imprisoned by the Chinese government for 27 months from 1967 to 1969 [Christopher Fry (1907-2005), playwright]
Publication details: 
The five letters between 1989 and 1991. Three of the letters on letterhead of The Old Granary, Charlton, West Sussex. Hostage Action Worldwide material all c/o The Charlton Foundation, 28 Nottingham Place, London.
£320.00

Nine items, all in good condition. All of the letters are signed 'Anthony', and four of them (two autograph and two typed) are each 1p, 8vo. The other letter, in autograph, is 1p, 16mo. With four items of material relating to Hostage Action Worldwide. The first letter (11 May 1989) accompanies 'our first reply to our first 350 donors – we're hoping to build rapidly now'. He reports that 'The Archbishop of Canterbury has this week responded positively to us and appointed a man, John Lyttle to our Advisory Council.

[ Thomas Fisher, artist and antiquary. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('Thos Fisher') to <J. T. Home?>, regarding 'plates of [Chinese?] symbols'

Author: 
Thomas Fisher (1772-1836), artist and antiquary
Fisher
Publication details: 
19 September 1825. Place not stated [ London? ].
£80.00
Fisher

1p., 4to. In fair condition, somewhat aged and worn. The letter reads: 'My dear friend | On examining your plates of symbols I find no perceptible [corrected from 'practicable'] difference between Nos 154 & 155; although the former is described as a dog and the latter as a hairy shaggy dog. Is the fact so? Excuse the freedom of yours | very sincerely | Thos. Fisher'. Fisher's letter may be connected with Robert Morrison's 'Dictionary of the Chinese Language' (1815-1823), which has a symbol for 'A hairy, shaggy dog.'

[ Wilfrid Henry Wells, sinologist. ] Typescript of his paper 'The Auditory Element in some Chinese Landscape Paintings. With Autograph draft of his paper 'A Blue-print of Chinese Landscape Painting | For the Use of Beginners' and portrait photograph.

Author: 
W. H. Wells [ Wilfrid Henry Wells ] (b.1878), Reader at the University of Munich, sinologist
Publication details: 
The Typescript with authorial inscription: 'W. H. Wells | Reichersbeuern | Germany 13b'.
£950.00

There is no indication that either of the two papers was ever published. Wells's 1935 book, 'Perspective in early Chinese Painting' is considered the first Western treatment of the subject. The three items in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: Typescript of 'The Auditory Element in some Chinese Landscape Paintings'. 6pp., with three plates (i.e. black and white photographs laid down on three leaves with typed credits). Bound up in a folder of orange card, with title and Wells's details on cover in his hand.

[Chinese Miners] Testimonial, in English, in the form of a printed poster, presented to Robinson on the occasion of his retirement as Senior Inspector of Mines, F.M.S., with list of names.

Author: 
'The Chinese Miners of the F.M.S. [Federated Malay States]' [Charles Ingle Robinson, Senior Inspector of Mines, F.M.S.; Malaysia; Malaya]
Publication details: 
'IPOH 11th MAY, 1933.' ['Printed at the Kuang Ming Press, Ipoh. [Malaya]']
£85.00

Printed in blue on one side of a piece of white paper roughly 60 x 40 cm. Good: lightly-aged and creased. The text is enclosed within an ornate decorative border, and is headed 'Charles Ingle Robinson Esqr., | B. Sc. (Lond.), Associate R. S. M., | M. I. C. E., M. I. M. M., | Senior Inspector of Mines, F. M. S.' This is followed by nineteen lines, expressing 'deep regret and genuine sorrow' at his 'departure for Europe on retirement'.

'The Chinese Bridge & Pagoda, | Erected in the Park, in commemoration of the Glorious Peace of 1814.' [Handcoloured engraving by John Heaviside Clark from Matthew Dubourg.]

Author: 
Matthew Dubourg (fl.1786-1838), artist; John Heaviside Clark (c.1771-1836), Scottish engraver; Edward Orme (1775-1848), London printseller [Chinese bridge and pagoda, St James's Park, London, 1814]
Publication details: 
'Published and Sold Augt. 12th. 1814, by EDWD. ORME, Publisher to his Majesty and H.R.H. the Prince Regent, Bond Street (corner of Brook Str.) London.'
£45.00

In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with discoloration to the reverse showing through slightly at corners. Dimensions: paper 23 x 32 cm; plate 20 x 30 cm; image 15 x 23 cm.

[Inscribed by the Chinese historian Wang Ling to Yolanda Sonnabend.] Printed volume, with text in Italian, French and English, of the proceedings of the 'VIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia della Scienza | Firenze-MIlano 3-9 September 1956'.

Author: 
Wang Ling (1917-1994), Chinese historian who collaborated with Joseph Needham [Eighth International Congress of the History of Science, Florence and Milan, 1956; Yolanda Sonnabend]
Publication details: 
VIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia della Scienza | Firenze-MIlano 3-9 September 1956.
£220.00

111pp., folio. Unpaginated, and printed on the rectos only. A duplicated and stapled production, in grey printed wraps. In poor condition: on brittle and aged high-acidity paper, with chipping to wraps and front cover loosening. Inscribed inside the front cover. No. 44 of 72 contributions is 'J. NEEDHAM - L. WANG - D. J. PRICE (INGHILTERRA) - Chinese astronomical clockwork.' Scarce: no copy on COPAC or in the Wellcome collection, and the only copy on OCLC WorldCat at the BNF.

[Mimeograph or similar] Notes on the family law and usages and on the criminal code of the Chinese

Author: 
George Thompson Hare, Civil Service, Straits Settlement and Federated Malay States
Publication details: 
Kuala Lumpur: Printed at the Selangor Government Printing Office, 1904 ["300/5-04"]
£250.00

40pp., folio, not bound (ribbon holds it together), minor staining, mainly good condiition. No other copy traced (viaLibri, COPAC, OCLC) except for one at the LSE (decribed as a "xerox").

[Pamphlet] A Glimpse into America's Past An English version of the documents, speeches and stories appearing in the Chinese magazine 'America Today' July 4, 1951.

Author: 
[US propaganda]
Publication details: 
No place, [1951]
£56.00

Pamphlet, [24]pp, 12mo, white printed wraps, stapled (sl. rusty), partially unopened, minor damage and staining. Includes the text of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and part of the Gettysburg Address" and similarly uplifting material, putting the US in a favourable light. No copy listed on OCLC/COPAC.

[Printed.] Wholesale Price List (5th Edition.) [...] Joseph Lyons & Co., Japanese and Chinese Importers, Reproducers of Old English Staffordshire China. [Containing 'about 200 illustrations' of 'English and Oriental China' figurines.] [With letter.]

Author: 
Joseph Lyons & Co., Japanese and Chinese Importers, Reproducers of Old English Staffordshire China [trade catalogues; porcelain figurines]
Joseph Lyons & Co., Japanese and Chinese Importers
Publication details: 
Undated [early twentieth century]. Joseph Lyons & Co., Weavers Hall, 22 Basinghall Street, London, E.C.
£225.00
Joseph Lyons & Co., Japanese and Chinese Importers

Catalogue: 8vo, 32 pp. Stapled. In remains of original plain red wraps. All illustrations clear and complete. In poor condition: on aged, worn paper, with several leaves and the wraps as separate leaves. Slight loss at head of first leaf. The covering letter (4to, 1 p, undated, on worn and aged paper) is a printed advertisement, on the firm's letterhead ('Established 1877'), with ten small illustrations of figurines in the margins. Scarce: no copy on COPAC.

Sur une Collection d'Amulettes Chinoises. Dessins de Mlle Gilberte Zaborowska.

Author: 
Raphaël Blanchard and Bui Van Quy, authors; Gilberte Zaborowska, illustrator [Chinese metallic medical amulets]
Publication details: 
Extrait de la 'Revue Anthropologique'. Paris: Librarie Félix Alcan. Juillet-Août 1918.
£100.00

8vo: 42 pp (paginated 131 to 172). Stitched pamphlet. In original printed wraps, with title and illustration. Two photographic illustrations in text and forty-eight numbered illustrations by Zaborowska. Good, on aged paper, with light notes in blue pencil on pp. 144 and 145. Blanchard explains that Quy, a doctor from Hanoi, came to Paris to further his medical studies. He had a position under Blanchard 'au Laboratoire de Parasitologie'.

Thirty-one items: including fourteen Signed Letters and Notes (all 'E. F Crowe'), Typed and in Autograph, mostly written to various Secretaries and officials of the Royal Society of Arts. With enclosures, drafts and copies of replies.

Author: 
Sir Edward Crowe [Sir Edward Thomas Frederick Crowe] (1877-1955), public servant, Vice-President (1937-60), President (1942-3), and Chairman of the Council (1941-3) of the Royal Society of Arts
Publication details: 
Dating from between 27 June 1940 and 26 March 1943. Most of Crowe's letters from his London address: 12A Ennismore Gardens, SW7.
£125.00

The collection of thirty-one items is in good condition, with the texts (in a variety of formats) clear and complete. Includes nine Typed Letters Signed, one Autograph Letter Signed, two Autograph Notes Signed, one Autograph Card Signed, one Typed Note Signed by Crowe, with a Typed Letter and a Typed Note signed on his behalf. The first item is an Autograph Card Signed from Crowe accepting his election as the Society's Vice-President.

[Chinese Miners] Testimonial, in English, in the form of a printed poster, presented to Robinson on the occasion of his retirement as Senior Inspector of Mines, F.M.S., with list of names.

Author: 
The Chinese Miners of the F.M.S. [Federated Malay States]' [Charles Ingle Robinson, Senior Inspector of Mines, F.M.S.; Malaysia; Malaya]
Publication details: 
IPOH 11th MAY, 1933.' ['Printed at the Kuang Ming Press, Ipoh. [Malaya]']
£85.00

Printed in blue on one side of a piece of white paper roughly 60 x 40 cm. Good: lightly-aged and creased. The text is enclosed within an ornate decorative border, and is headed 'Charles Ingle Robinson Esqr., | B. Sc. (Lond.), Associate R. S. M., | M. I. C. E., M. I. M. M., | Senior Inspector of Mines, F. M. S.' This is followed by nineteen lines, expressing 'deep regret and genuine sorrow' at his 'departure for Europe on retirement'.

Autograph Letter Signed ('Cha de Paravey') to the Abbé Guerin, 'chez l'abbé Tesson, aux Millions Etrangeres, Paris'.

Author: 
Charles de Paravey [Charles-Hippolyte de Paravey] (1787-1871), French orientalist, palaeographer and engineer
Publication details: 
12 September 1848; Paris.
£56.00

16mo (13.5 x 10 cm): 2 pp. A bifolium, addressed on the reverse of the second leaf. The first leaf has been slightly trimmed at the bottom, resulting in some loss to the bottom line of the recto. A formal letter in the third person, written in a close, difficult hand. Carefully detailing the missing sections in his copy of the 'Dictionnaire Anamitique-Latin'.

Typed pages from her 'Chinese Prose Literature of the T'ang Period' (London: Probsthain, 1938), together with a proof slip from the printers.

Author: 
Evangeline Dora Edwards (1888-1957) [Stephen Austin & Sons, Ltd., Hertford, Herts, publishers]
Publication details: 
1938
£38.00

Good, on lightly aged paper. Rust stains from paperclips on one leaf. Five pages of typescripts on five quarto leaves. The first page gives the contents, and the rest are covering pages with a few words of instructions (e.g. 'PREFACE | (To be prepared after revising first proofs)' and 'APPENDIX --- Authenticity........ | To follow with Bibliography and Indexes.' The proof slip, printed and with pencil insertions, is one page, on a leaf roughly eight inches by four and a half.

Syndicate content