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Deluxe issue of two print series illustrating the Chinese emperors and the life of Confucius

HELMAN, Isidore-Stanislas.
Faits memorables des empereurs de la Chine, tirés des annales chinoises... gravées ... d'après les dessins originaux de la Chine ... tirés du cabinet de mr. Bertin.
Paris, Helman and Nicholas Ponce, 1788. Wholly engraved series, consisting of a title-page, dedication, 24 illustrations and 24 text pages, all printed on one side of a leaf.
With: (2) HELMAN, Isidore-Stanislas. Abrégé historique des principaux traits de la vie de Confucius célebre philosophe chinois, ... gravées ... d'après des dessins originaux de la Chine envoyés à Paris par M. Amiot missionaire à Pékin ...
Paris, Helman and Nicholas Ponce, [1788]. Wholly engraved series, consisting of a title-page, 24 illustrations and 28 text pages, all except 8 of the text pages, printed on one side of a leaf. 2 works in 1 volume. 4to. Contemporary mottled calf, gold-tooled spine, sides, binding edges and dentelles, gilt edges.
€ 18,000
Deluxe issue, printed on wove paper, of two handsomely engraved print series, with each print accompanied by an engraved text leaf. The first series is a radically revised version of Dijian tushuo (The emperor's mirror), designed to appeal to educated Parisians. Besides reframing the Chinese historical anecdotes for a French audience, Helman also completely reconceptualised "Published in Paris just a year before the French revolution, perhaps the volume was meant as a veiled criticism not only of Louis XVI's policies but also of his wife, Marie-Antoinette" (Reed & Demattè). The second series illustrates the life of Confucius, with on the text leaves "morales de Confucius" from Collection des moralistes anciens (1782). Both series are here printed on wove paper, and ad 2 (usually dated 1786) appears to have been issues together with ad 1 in 1788.
A couple occasional spots and some very minor foxing in the upper margins, otherwise a very good copy. The binding has some minor wear along the extremities of the spine, but is also very good. Cordier, Sinica, cols. 587-588; Löwendahl 647 & 654; Reed & Demattè 21-22, and pp. 43-45.
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Related Subjects:

Art, architecture & photography  >  Drawings, Prints & Watercolours
Asia  >  China
History, law & philosophy  >  Philosophy & Esotericism