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First edition of this scarce early Macao imprint. Robert Morrison (1782-1834) was "the chief person who opened to his countrymen the road to the knowledge of the language of China" (ODNB), and his writings are cornerstones of any China library. Morrison joined the London Missionary Society in 1804 and sailed for Canton in early 1807. He initially faced opposition from the East India Company and the Portuguese authorities in Macao, so chose to live and conduct linguistic research secretly among American merchants. A transformation in the company's attitude provided the funding needed to print his A Grammar of the Chinese Language (1815), these Dialogues, and his landmark Chinese dictionary (1815-23). After serving as interpreter to Lord Amherst's abortive mission to Peking, Morrison returned to Britain in 1824, bringing with him a substantial library, which became the core of the collection at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Writing for Western merchants and their staff, he provides conversations suitable to common commercial and social situations. These allow the western student of Chinese to grasp commercial politeness ("If I buy dear, I shall loose [sic] instead of making any thing by it"), social chit-chat ("Had you a pleasant journey?"), and even flattery ("Your goodness, lofty as the mountain, and immense as the ocean, forms part of myself and will never be forgotten"). Bound with the Dialogues are first editions of four studies by the antiquarian Stephen Weston (1747-1830) - a man of "widespread learning" (ODNB) - who wrote around 50 books, including the first English translation of the Rosetta Stone. The works justify his accomplished status as a translator and cultural interlocutor: a) The Conquest of the Miao-Tse, an Imperial Poem by Kien-Lung Entitled a Choral Song of Harmony for the First Part of the Spring. London: Printed & Sold by C. & R. Baldwin, 1810. b) Fan-Hy-Cheu: A Tale, in Chinese and English: with Notes, and a Short Grammar of the Chinese Language. London: Printed for the Author; and Published by Robert Baldwin, 1814. c) Persian Distichs, from Various Authors, in which the Beauties of the Language are Exhibited in a Small Compass, and May by Easily Remembered. London: Printed for the Author; by S. Rousseau, 1814. d) Episodes from the Shah Nameh; or Annals of the Persian Kings; by Ferdoosee. Translated into English Verse, with Notes and Authorities, a Verbal Index, Persian and English, and Some Account of the Contents of the Whole Form. London: Printed for the Author, By C. Baldwin; Published by Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, 1815. Cordier 1641, 1769 & 1791; Löwendahl 745; Lust 1093 & 1106. Five works bound in one, octavo (233 x 143 mm). Chinese characters in text. Weston works on China with engraved title page and 11 engraved plates. Early 20th-century half calf, raised bands tooled with scrolling foliate rolls in gilt, second compartment lettered direct in gilt, marbled sides, renewed brown surface-paper endpapers, edges sprinkled brown. Binding sturdy, front board slightly bowed, sides and extremities worn, evidence of bookplate removed from front pastedown, Dialogues text clean bar black mark on a4 verso, Weston works with light foxing and toning, one plate bound upside down: a very good Sammelband, with the Dialogues in well-preserved condition.
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