An Illustrated Dictionary of Old Beijing.
N.p. Yingxiang Oriental Culture Communication Companny, n.y. Paperback. 12mo. Stiff blue wrappers with Chinese string binding and paper label. (Ca. 100pp). Numerous small illustrations. Near fine. Housed in ornate small 8vo two-part presentation box and accompanied by 27" X 27" pictorial map on satin, both box and map fine. Item #52274
This interesting text, on faux vellum paper and every page bearing decorative borders, printed dos-a-dos opening with text in Chinese followed by text in English, takes the reader on a tour of the dozens of dense, crowded sites depicted on pictorial map, which depicts the old walled town and surrounding countryside, mountains just visible along the upper border along which runs the "Great Wall." Black bordered and multi-colored, though the background is a pleasing sepia tone. No history of the map per se is given and presumably it is a modern creation intended for historical education. Brief chapters discuss: "Urban Evolution," "Architecture & Gardens," "Seasons & Festivals," "Traditional Ceremonies and Folklore," "Folk Arts," "Commercial Culture," "Recreational Sports" and "Social Customs." Numerous brief descriptions feature tiny images from the map and explain specific sites: Palaces, grand residences, parks, gardens, theatres, temples, mosques, churches, altars, bridges, lakes, gates, shops, restaurants, galleries and much more, as well as activities such as festivals, birthday parties and weddings. From the collection of Adlai E. Stevenson III (1930-2021), U.S. Senator from Illinois (1969-81) and son of the Illinois governor and two-time Democratic presidential candidate. Among Senator Stevenson’s Senate committees he served on the Banking Committee as Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Finance. In this capacity he often visited Asia, primarily China. On these junkets long-standing diplomatic tradition dictated a ceremonial gift exchange in which the host – usually a local dignitary – presented the guest with a gift, and the guest in turn presented the host with a gift. After leaving the Senate, Stevenson continued high-level banking concerns with Asia, co-founding SC & M Investment Management Corp. and the Asian mergers and acquisitions firm HuaMei Capital Co. Inc. He continued to visit China for many years regarding Chinese banking matters in which a gift exchange was likewise the tradition. This memento was presented to him on one such visit. o Beijing.
Price: $495.00