Dee Goong An: Three Murder Cases Solved By Judge Dee. An old Chinese detective novel translated from the original Chinese with an introduction and notes. -
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. ‘The work originates in the 18th century and was published anonymously, because writing (especially of crime fiction) was not considered a worthy profession. It was often reprinted over a long period of time and Van Gulik was faced with a copy of the work in a Tsjoengking library. He recognised the importance of the work not only as a piece of crime-fiction, but also as an important historical source for the T'ang Dynasty (618-907).’
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 artefacts 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.
Octavo (book size 21.8x16cm) pp. [8] iv [2] xxiii [1] 223 [3] 225-237 [3]. In original illustrated paper over boards, no price, as issued. Condition: Fine in near fine boards, light rubbing to corners, slightly heavier to spine ends, far less of the fading to spine lettering than usually encountered. Ref: 111994 Price: HK$ 19,000
‘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. ‘The work originates in the 18th century and was published anonymously, because writing (especially of crime fiction) was not considered a worthy profession. It was often reprinted over a long period of time and Van Gulik was faced with a copy of the work in a Tsjoengking library. He recognised the importance of the work not only as a piece of crime-fiction, but also as an important historical source for the T'ang Dynasty (618-907).’
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 artefacts 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.
Octavo (book size 21.8x16cm) pp. [8] iv [2] xxiii [1] 223 [3] 225-237 [3]. In original illustrated paper over boards, no price, as issued. Condition: Fine in near fine boards, light rubbing to corners, slightly heavier to spine ends, far less of the fading to spine lettering than usually encountered. Ref: 111994 Price: HK$ 19,000