BRISSON, BARNABÉ:
Pp. (xii), 378, one blank leaf. Printer's woodcut device on title page. Extensively indexed. Contemporary vellum, manuscript title on spine. Some old scholarly annotations in the margins. Second, improved edition. Provenance: Hammer Library (Bookplate); Baron Germund Carl Cederhielm with his signature GCC on front endpaper; John Schander (1872-1937), Elleholm. Barnabé Brisson (1531-91), a distinguished French magistrate and politician whose talents won him great reputation. His principal work was a dictionary of Justinian legal terminology "De Verborum quae ad jus civile pertinent significatione" (1559) and he also compiled the first French codification of legislation "le code Henri III". This work was first published in 1590 from the author's notes. The first part deals with the Persian rulers and their history, the second is devoted to religion and social life. The last part describes with military organisation, both ancient and modern. A great copy of a significant work on the Persian empire. Adams B 2851. F.Diba 189. VD 16, B8335.
ABEL-RÉMUSAT, JEAN-PIERRE:
4to. Pp. (ii), 160. Text in Latin, Chinese and Manchu. Partly with minor browning, first few leaves affected at inner margin, no text loss. Two leaves with marginal tears (pp. 33-36). Contemporary marbled boards, rubbed along extremities. Old ownership inscription. Bookplate of Staffan Rosén, Professor of Korean, Stockholm.First edition, rare. A translation of the Zhongyong or "The Doctrine of the Mean" which is one of the Four Books of classical Chinese philosophy. Originally it was a chapter of Liji ("Record of Rites"). The text is attributed to Zisi (Kong Ji), a grandson of Confucius. However, this has been disputed and according to modern scholars parts may have been written by Confucius himself. "The Doctrine of the Mean" is a text rich in symbolism and guidance for perfection. Rémusat, renowned French orientalist who was appointed the first professor of Chinese in Europe. Cordier BS 1403. Lust 752. Not in Löwendahl.
HAMILTON, ANGUS:
Pp. xli, 315. With one large folding coloured map and many illustrations in the text. Original red cloth, with gilt vignette on upper cover, spine faded, small stain to upper right corner, light wear to extremities, inner front hinge loosening. "Presentation copy" blind-stamped on title. Bookplate and ownership stamp of Staffan Rosén. Second edition, first published in the same year. Angus Hamilton, British journalist who spent some months in Korea as the Far East correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette. This is a comprehensive account of Korea at that time. Contains much information on education, government, judiciary, foreign operations, agriculture, industries, trade and the treaty ports, etc. Cordier BS 2986. Taehôn Pak, "Western Books on Korea", page 456.
