Hanshan Tang Books

SEKN04
Sekino, Tadashi & Takeshima, Takuichi: NEKKA. Jehol: The Most Glorious and Monumental Relics in Manchukuo. 熱河。關野貞竹島卓一著. Tokyo, 1934-5 & 1937. Four volumes photographic plates comprising: 5 colour and c.430 b/w collotype plates of which 2 foldouts and 1 panorama. Smaller text volume: 4, 9, 254, 28 ix pp. B/w photographic illustrations and plans. 5 vols. 44x34 cm. Cloth. Stitched Japanese-style. Hardback text volume.
GBP 20,000.00
A detailed and substantial, indeed, magnificent, four-volume publication comprising the results of a photographic survey undertaken at Chengde in the early 1930s by Prof. T. Sekino and T. Takeshima who travelled extensively in Northern China during this period. This huge report is the prime historical visual reference on the imperial Qing dynasty Summer Resort at Chengde, the Bishu Shanzhuang, and the surrounding temples. No work has yet surpassed the detail of this publication. The complex was also known as Jehol - or 'Nekka' in Japanese. Shows the imperial park, its buildings and pavilions plus the surrounding temples in their original condition but in a very neglected and dilapidated state. Contains five colour and hundreds of black-and-white collotype plates. An important and extremely rare early visual resource on this imperial complex. Contents pages and captions to plates in both English and Japanese. Produced to a very high standard.
In addition to the four volumes of photography, this set also has the smaller text volume which was issued later in 1937, following Sekino's death. The text volume has a list of contents, two page preface, two page foreword, list of plans, list of illustrations and 28 page summary in English. Main text in Japanese. The text volume was not published with the plate volumes as Sekino made a second trip to Chengde and wanted the text volume to incorporate the findings of this second trip. The photographic illustrations in the text volume are of interest as a number of them were taken in 1909 by a local Chinese photographer and obtained by Sekino and Takeshima on their first visit. The text volume was also only available to those who had subscribed to the four volumes of plates - themselves issued in two stages. It explains the extreme rarity of this work as a set.
The four volumes of plates have been deaccessioned from a Northeast China institution, the text volume deaccessioned from Cornell University Library. The volumes of plates with library stamps to frontpapers and with a small unobtrusive red library stamp in the margin of each plate alongside the captions and, occasionally, a larger round stamp again to the margin of a plate. The plates themselves clean. The text volume with a couple of library stamps to frontpapers, otherwise clean.
In general, slight wear, fading and rubbing to the covers but all volumes good and sturdy. Slight marks and occasional foxing to the black-and-white plates. The foldout panorama has become detached from its mount.
A good study copy of a very rare work. Priced accordingly.
Subjects: Architecture Gardens
Item 327 in List 205.
URL for this record: hanshan.com/?s/SEKN04.HTM
Record produced by Hanshan Tang Books, www.hanshan.com.

Hanshan Tang Books

Unit 3 Ashburton Centre 276 Cortis Road London sw15 3ay UK

+44 (0)20 8788 4464 hst@hanshan.com

Quick Links: LIST 205