Remunerative Railways for New Countries; with some account of the first Railway in China - Inscribed -
Richard C. Rapier
1878 - E. &, London - First Edition
Richard Christopher Rapier (1836-1897), a pioneering railway engineer and specialist in narrow gauge railways, worked to promote the use of railways in China and in 1872 together with Jardine, Matheson, & Co. had a share in the construction of the controversial first railway in China, the Shanghai and Woosung Railway, also known as the ‘Woosung Road’ which began operating in July 1876.
Alll of this is described here, together with illustrations and photographs, in this scarce first edition inscribed by Rapier to the prominent French engineer Éloi Béral.
This work became the standard work on light gauge railways and describes in detail the first Chinese railway line, from Shanghai to Woosung, which opened in 1876.
Illustrated throughout with eight mounted Woodburytypes (high quality reproductions of original photographic negatives), nine folding letterpress tables, most estimate sheets to be completed, numerous wood-engraved illustrations and diagrams. Provenance: Inscribed to Éloi Béral (1838-1908) a French engineer and senator, French Inspector General of Mines, and involved in the Panama Canal (and later scandal).
Quarto (book size 25.4x19.2cm), pp. [2] 114 [2]. In publisher’s red cloth, upper panel with twin fillet guilt borders enclosing gilt lettering and vignette of small steam train, sympathetically rebacked with matching red cloth and new matching gilt lettering, original yellow-coated endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: A little spotting to first and last few pages else fine, in very good original cloth covers, neatly rebacked in matching red cloth with new spine. Ref: 112111 Price: HK$ 12,000
Alll of this is described here, together with illustrations and photographs, in this scarce first edition inscribed by Rapier to the prominent French engineer Éloi Béral.
This work became the standard work on light gauge railways and describes in detail the first Chinese railway line, from Shanghai to Woosung, which opened in 1876.
Illustrated throughout with eight mounted Woodburytypes (high quality reproductions of original photographic negatives), nine folding letterpress tables, most estimate sheets to be completed, numerous wood-engraved illustrations and diagrams. Provenance: Inscribed to Éloi Béral (1838-1908) a French engineer and senator, French Inspector General of Mines, and involved in the Panama Canal (and later scandal).
Quarto (book size 25.4x19.2cm), pp. [2] 114 [2]. In publisher’s red cloth, upper panel with twin fillet guilt borders enclosing gilt lettering and vignette of small steam train, sympathetically rebacked with matching red cloth and new matching gilt lettering, original yellow-coated endpapers, all edges gilt. Condition: A little spotting to first and last few pages else fine, in very good original cloth covers, neatly rebacked in matching red cloth with new spine. Ref: 112111 Price: HK$ 12,000