Grandeur et suprématie de Péking.

4to.

Sewn, ill. upper cover (very good condition). Box covered with orange silk, front panel entirely embroidered in colours and gold (figuring a dragon), elaborate closing flaps, Chinese clasps in bone (1 missing, worn at edges).

Deluxe edition limited to 1000 copies, one of the first 50 copies on Imperial Japanese vellum (n. 8) illustrated with 10 watercoloured plates and 30 ornamented painted initials enhanced with gold. This copy is preserved in a beautiful Chinese style box. Edition ill. with plans, collotypes and b/w figures in-text. Divided in 2 parts concerning the history of Peking from the Yuan Dynasty through to the early years of Republican China, including the Boxer Rebellion, and with chapters on Christianity (Lazarists and Protestant missionaries), art, culture and customs including palaces and temples, trade, wedding customs, religious beliefs etc.