Handsome association copy: Chinese phrase book for French and British soldiers in the Second Opium War
Guide des armées alliés en Chine ou dialogues sur les reconnaisances militaires en trois langues.
8vo (128 x 188 mm). (2), XVI, 163, (1) pp. Text in French, Chinese and English. Contemporary full red morocco with the gilt arms of Marshall Randon to both covers. Moirée pastedowns and flyleaves. Leading edges gilt; inner dentelle gilt; all edges gilt.
€ 4,800.00
First edition of an extraordinary phrasebook for French and British officers in preparation for the Second Opium War in China, jointly published in Paris and London.
The book opens with a list of Chinese provinces and their principal towns; this is followed by two pages of "Hygenic regulations to be observed in China" which end with the classic advice "never take an afternoon's nap". The largest part of the phrase-book deals with reconnaissance of the coast, canals, gorges, mountains, forests etc., but there are also some revealing chapters on how to deal with deserters and spies:
"What are you?".
"I am a fisherman”.
"You lie; you are not a fisherman; I know you are a spy. Besides you have already deceived me. Prepare to die".
Different romanizations are given for the French and English transliterations of the Chinese characters.
An important association copy, beautifully bound in armorial red morocco for Jacques Louis César Alexandre Randon, 1st Count Randon (1795-1871), who was the French Minister of War from 1859 to 1867, at the time of the Second Opium War. As a young soldier Randon had fought in Napoleon's 1812 Russian campaign and risen through the ranks to General and finally Marshall of France and Governor of Algeria.
Occasional minor foxing; very well preserved.
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