Eric Chaim Kline, Bookseller - Old and Rare Books

繪圖 新童話大觀 Hui Tu Xin Ton Hua Da Guan (Illustrated New Fairy Tales Grand View) [COMPLETE 3 VOLUMES, IN 9 SEPARATE SOFTCOVER PARTS, HOUSED IN ORIGINAL PORTFOLIO]

Chen, Hexiang (陳龢祥, ed.) Qin Tongpei (秦同培, reviser)

上海 (Shanghai): 世界書局 (Shi jie shu ju), [1923]. Softcover. Octavos. Double-sided paginated leaves. Vol.1 (pt.1): 2, 21 leaves, Vol.1 (pt.2): 22, [1] leaves, Vol.2 (pt.1): 2, 16 leaves, Vol.2 (pt.2): 17 leaves, Vol.2 (pt.3): 16 leaves, Vol.2 (pt.4): 16, [1] leaves, Vol.3 (pt.1): 1, 17 leaves, Vol.3 (pt.2): 21 leaves, Vol.3 (pt.3): 19, [1] leaves. Publisher's original illustrated yellow and red paper portfolio, housing 3 volumes in 9 individual string-bound softcover parts, each chromolithgraphically illustrated on the covers.

Published in the "twelfth year of the Republic of China" (1923)*, this now extremely scarce work, is a new and revised edition of the noted illustrated collection of Chinese fairy tales and stories for children. The first section (volumes 1-2) contains folk tales, the second section (volumes 3-6) contains stories derived from Chinese history and the third section (volumes 7-9) contains fairy tales (including adaptations of foreign literature). The volumes corresponding to each of these three sections have the same images on their covers. The first two volumes, contain an image of a brother and sister feeding birds, the next four volumes show two boys playing with a dog, and the final three volumes show two fairies putting a child to sleep. Each volume is profusely illustrated throughout with finely rendered b/w woodblock images, likely in the hand of a singular artist. Others have previously noted a certain resemblance to and an influence in style from Meiji-era Japanese woodblock printed literature. Although we have not been able to the specifically compare various editions, we have been able to locate the earliest known edition from 1921, also issued in 9 parts. Additionally we have been able to find publications that appear to be later expanded editions of the same work (in 14 volumes), from the same publisher, issued between 1931 and 1933. The publishing house "World Bookstore" (or World Publishing Company) was the largest publishing house in Shanghai during the period, and was among the top three publishers in China. The company was defunct as of 1950. Publisher's illustrated advertisement printed on the interior flap of the portfolio.

Text throughout in Chinese.

Portfolio with rubbing to extremities, especially the hinges. Front cover of portfolio, with some smudging and age toning, as well as an abrasion at the bottom. Interior flaps of the portfolio have been reinforced with Japan tissue. Wrappers of softcover volumes with light age toning, a few light creases, and some minor chipping along a few edges. Interiors quite clean and vibrant, save for some age toning, and a few very minor sporadic instances of small water stains. String bindings still quite tight. Portfolio in good, wrappers in very good-, interiors in very good+ condition overall. g to vg+. Item #52784

*Although the top of the front cover of each individual volume states that they were "published in the 11th year of the Republic of China" (likely a holdover from the previous edition), the interior back wrappers of the 2nd, 6th and 9th volumes state in the publication information that they were actually published in the "12th year" (1923).

Alternate title: 童話大觀 Grand View of Fairy tales.

There are no OCLC holdings worldwide for this edition, nor are there any records online.

Price: $7,500.00