Ren, David.
Ren, David. THE IMPERIAL ROCKS. With contributions by Jin Hongkui, Han Guanghui, Shan Guoqiang, and Ge Zhaoguang. Hong Kong: Published by author, printed by San Lien Shudian, 2000. Folio. 299pp. Includes maps and color photo illustrations throughout. Purple silk-like brocade covered boards, gilt and black lettering on spine. DATED AND SIGNED BY AUTHOR IN CHINESE. Contained within a stiff slip case with a color-printed scene of a Chinese courtyard. Rare. Profusely illustrated throughout with rocks (usually on pedestals) as found in situ. Very fine condition. Ren writes an introduction in English to the Chinese Imperial courtyard rocks he has researched. The catalog then provides descriptions of 80 illustrated rocks in Chinese. Ren discusses Imperial taste, various aspects of rock connoisseurship, the types of rocks favored by during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and more. He also explains the role of rocks in Chinese gardening arts. All the photographs were taken by the author and were meticulously processed for publication, with great care given in book production. An unknown quantity was printed and were never for sale through bookstores. Shan Guoqiang is a renowned scholar.
Meinertzhagen, R.
London: Hugh Rees, 1930. 1st edition. Folio. VOLUME 1: xvi + 348pp. Photographic frontispiece. 3 folding colour maps. 3 b/w plates. 15 colour plates; VOLUME 2: 349 - 700 pp. 3 b/w plates. 11 colour plates. Many drawings throughout the text in both volumes. Publisher’s green cloth with gilt titling. Tip of spine of Volume 2 with repair. Light rubbing to front cover. Lower corners of both volumes slightly bumped. Overall, a clean, very good tight copy. Chapters: The Origin of Life in Egypt, Migration, the Birds of Ancient Egypt, The Protection of Birds in Egypt, A Systematic list of Egyptian Birds plus Appendices covering resident, summer, and migratory birds. Included extinct birds, the recovery of birds, migration, Arabic names for the commoner Egyptian birds and a detailed bibliography. HEAVY BOOKS. EXTRA POSTAGE LIKELY
Lawton, Thomas.
Washington, D.C.: Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institute, 1982. First edition. 4to. 202pp with colour frontispiece, b/w and colour illustrations throughout. Index included. Fine with a fine dust jacket. From dust jacket: “The roughly two-and-one-half-century span of the Warring States period was a time of extraordinary change in China. In this era of transition, which might be described as the watershed between old and new China, manifestations of change are revealed in the cultural and artistic innovations of the period. From the rich holdings of the Freer Gallery of Art, Thomas Lawton, director of the Gallery, has selected 151 objects to explore these revelations of change; this exhibition catalogue contributes to the reexamination of early Chinese art in light of recent archaeological findings."
Norwalk: The Easton Press, 2003. First, thus. Reprint of the 1955 first edition, new typesetting. 8vo. [x]+246pp. 16 black and white plates, with maps by A. Sparks and sketches by Geoorge Djurkovic. SIGNED BY HILLARY ON A SPECIAL LEAF. SIGNED AGAIN BY HILLARY ON THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY. An Easton Press note card is laid in describing Hillary’s achievements and more. Full burgundy leather, raised bands, gilt decorations, all edges gilt, moire endpapers, ribbon marker. As new. Includes a Preface to the Easton Press edition by Hillary, dated January 2003.