The Red Pavilion. A Chinese Detective Story -
Robert H. Van Gulik
1964 - Heinemann, London - First English edition (First published by Art Printing Works, Kuala Lumpur, 1961)
The tenth book in the Judge Dee series, and chronologically fourteenth tale, being set in China 670 AD. Written in Kuala Lumpur whilst Van Gulik was stationed there as Dutch Ambassador to the federation of Malaya
With six illustrations from woodblock prints, and a Sketch Map of Paradise Island, in Chinese style by Van Gulik. Dr. Robert Hans Van Gulik (1910-67) got his Ph.D. in Oriental languages at the age of 24, knew fluently about fifteen languages, produced a vast body of sometimes groundbreaking scholarly works on (mainly) Chinese culture, achieved a high proficiency in Chinese calligraphy and in playing the Chinese lute, very much like a mandarin of old times. His collection of Chinese artifacts and rare books merited a specific sale at Christie’s in 1983. Whilst doing all this he rose to become Netherlands ambassador to Japan before retiring, with his pet gibbon.
Reference: Van De Wettering, Robert Van Gulik. His Life, His Work. Otto Penzler, ‘Collecting Mystery Fiction’, The Armchair Detective V16 No.1 (March 1983) 75-83.
Octavo (19 x 12.7 cm) pp. [8] 173 [1] [1 (Postscript)] [1] [2 Sketch Map of Paradise Island] [1]. Publisher’s blue cloth, gilt lettering to spine, illustrated map endpapers. One of two variants, this one with the Sketch Map of Paradise as endpapers, the other variant uses additional blank endpapers. Dust jacket priced ‘15s NET’ to lower front flap. Condition: Very good, light foxing to foredge and anedpapers, wrinkling to front free endpaper (production fault), in near fine dust jacket with sunning to spine. Ref: 108857 Price: HK$ 2,900
With six illustrations from woodblock prints, and a Sketch Map of Paradise Island, in Chinese style by Van Gulik. Dr. Robert Hans Van Gulik (1910-67) got his Ph.D. in Oriental languages at the age of 24, knew fluently about fifteen languages, produced a vast body of sometimes groundbreaking scholarly works on (mainly) Chinese culture, achieved a high proficiency in Chinese calligraphy and in playing the Chinese lute, very much like a mandarin of old times. His collection of Chinese artifacts and rare books merited a specific sale at Christie’s in 1983. Whilst doing all this he rose to become Netherlands ambassador to Japan before retiring, with his pet gibbon.
Reference: Van De Wettering, Robert Van Gulik. His Life, His Work. Otto Penzler, ‘Collecting Mystery Fiction’, The Armchair Detective V16 No.1 (March 1983) 75-83.
Octavo (19 x 12.7 cm) pp. [8] 173 [1] [1 (Postscript)] [1] [2 Sketch Map of Paradise Island] [1]. Publisher’s blue cloth, gilt lettering to spine, illustrated map endpapers. One of two variants, this one with the Sketch Map of Paradise as endpapers, the other variant uses additional blank endpapers. Dust jacket priced ‘15s NET’ to lower front flap. Condition: Very good, light foxing to foredge and anedpapers, wrinkling to front free endpaper (production fault), in near fine dust jacket with sunning to spine. Ref: 108857 Price: HK$ 2,900