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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
Mono-Alu Folklore (Bougainville Strait, Western Solomon Islands) -
Gerald Camden Wheeler
1926 - George Routledge & Sons, London - First Edition
The collection of Tales and Song Texts here given was made during a stay in Alu and Mono, Bougainville Strait, Western Solomon Islands in 1908-9 for ethnological research. Most of them were taken down from the dictation of the Mono-Alu man Bitiai, a blind man, son of the late chief Big Gorai. The song texts were given from dictation without the music. In the case of eight of the tales, the author had no Mono text. Many of the tales though gathered by Wheeler in Alu or in Mono, come from outside the islands in the Bougainville Strait, from Buim (South Bougainville). Mono is known as Treasure Island, Alu as Shorthand Island; with Fauru they may be grouped as the islands of the Bougainville Strait. - From the introduction.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1926 - George Routledge & Sons, London - First Edition
The collection of Tales and Song Texts here given was made during a stay in Alu and Mono, Bougainville Strait, Western Solomon Islands in 1908-9 for ethnological research. Most of them were taken down from the dictation of the Mono-Alu man Bitiai, a blind man, son of the late chief Big Gorai. The song texts were given from dictation without the music. In the case of eight of the tales, the author had no Mono text. Many of the tales though gathered by Wheeler in Alu or in Mono, come from outside the islands in the Bougainville Strait, from Buim (South Bougainville). Mono is known as Treasure Island, Alu as Shorthand Island; with Fauru they may be grouped as the islands of the Bougainville Strait. - From the introduction.
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Price HK$ 1,200
A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean, Performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, -
Captain James Wilson, Wlliam Wilson, James Morrison, Samuel Greatheed
1799 - Printed for T. Chapman by T. Gillet, London - First Edition [The Gillet Edition]
Account of the first missionary voyage to the South Seas, and an important work in relation to Australia as well. A large quarto volume with six engraved plates and seven folding engraved maps, in contemporary binding.
‘The London Missionary Society was founded in 1795, mainly to send missions to Polynesia. The voyage of the Duff was undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti, and a settlement of twenty-five persons was formed. Apart from the missionary interest of this account, the voyagers made many important discoveries of islands, including Timoe, Mangareva, and Pakarua in the Tuamoto Archipelago; Ongea and Fulanga Islands; Vanua Mbalavu, and Satawal, Lamotrek, Elato, Ifalik, and Woleai atolls in the Western Carolines, before putting in at Macao. A new group of islands, named the Duff Group, was discovered among the Santa Cruz Islands. On the outward voyage, the expedition visited Rio de Janeiro.
The narrative is fresh, although sometimes naive, and provides a glimpse of everyday life on the islands that the mariner or naturalist didn't consider worth reporting.’ -Hill, Pacific Voyages.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1799 - Printed for T. Chapman by T. Gillet, London - First Edition [The Gillet Edition]
Account of the first missionary voyage to the South Seas, and an important work in relation to Australia as well. A large quarto volume with six engraved plates and seven folding engraved maps, in contemporary binding.‘The London Missionary Society was founded in 1795, mainly to send missions to Polynesia. The voyage of the Duff was undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti, and a settlement of twenty-five persons was formed. Apart from the missionary interest of this account, the voyagers made many important discoveries of islands, including Timoe, Mangareva, and Pakarua in the Tuamoto Archipelago; Ongea and Fulanga Islands; Vanua Mbalavu, and Satawal, Lamotrek, Elato, Ifalik, and Woleai atolls in the Western Carolines, before putting in at Macao. A new group of islands, named the Duff Group, was discovered among the Santa Cruz Islands. On the outward voyage, the expedition visited Rio de Janeiro.
The narrative is fresh, although sometimes naive, and provides a glimpse of everyday life on the islands that the mariner or naturalist didn't consider worth reporting.’ -Hill, Pacific Voyages.
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Price HK$ 6,000
Eighteen Hundred Miles On a Burmese Tat. Through Burmah, Siam, and the Eastern Shan States by an Ordinary British Subaltern -
Lieutenant G. J. Younghusband
1888 - W. H. Allen & Co., London - First Edition
‘The following pages give an account of a journey made during six months' leave in the beginning of 1887. They do not profess to any literary merit whatever, but are merely a faithful record of new countries and new nations, as seen with the eyes of an ORDINARY BRITISH SUBALTERN.‘
The journey was made on horseback through Burma and Thailand, from Moulmein (Mawlamyine), 300 kilometres south of Rangoon (Yangon) north to Kengtung on the borders of China, Thailand, and Laos, and then all the way south to Bangkok via Chiang Mai. All outlined on the fold out ‘Skeleton Map of Siam’ to the rear.
Younghusband is an entertaining and observant writer, and his amateur sketches illustrate the book throughout, these are spread over thirteen full page plates (one of which folds out, and one is a duplicate).
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Price HK$ 6,000
1888 - W. H. Allen & Co., London - First Edition
‘The following pages give an account of a journey made during six months' leave in the beginning of 1887. They do not profess to any literary merit whatever, but are merely a faithful record of new countries and new nations, as seen with the eyes of an ORDINARY BRITISH SUBALTERN.‘The journey was made on horseback through Burma and Thailand, from Moulmein (Mawlamyine), 300 kilometres south of Rangoon (Yangon) north to Kengtung on the borders of China, Thailand, and Laos, and then all the way south to Bangkok via Chiang Mai. All outlined on the fold out ‘Skeleton Map of Siam’ to the rear.
Younghusband is an entertaining and observant writer, and his amateur sketches illustrate the book throughout, these are spread over thirteen full page plates (one of which folds out, and one is a duplicate).
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Price HK$ 6,000