Mi Fu on Ink-stones

Published by Henri Vetch, Peking, China, 1938

About this Item

Translated into English by R. H. van Gulik, with an introduction and notes. Primary text in English and with ancillary text in Chinese. First edition thus, presumed first printing, 1938. Published by Henri Vetch, Peking. Approx. 9.5 x 6.75 inches. Black cloth hardboards, with crisp white-stamped titling to the front board and the spine, and crisp red-stamped device to the front board. Virtually unbumped spine head and tail, and sharp corners. Exceptionally clean binding, if very slightly warped. Text block firmly bound in and quite tight. All pages somewhat age-yellowed but not brittle. With viii and 70 numbered pages on matte stock. Text includes preface, introduction, The Chinese inkslab and the yen-shih, "An account of ink-stones", Conclusions, and index. Frontispiece portrait of Mi Fu. Numerous text illustrations and line drawings, some with tissue guards. Full-page B&W map of ink-stone sites in China. The dust jacket with black background to the front, with lightly faded lettering; the rear DJ with black text over a white background, the text advertising the publisher's edition of "A History of Chinese Philosophy, the Period of the Philosophers," by Fung Yu-Lan. The price-clipped DJ is noticeably wrinkled and chipped. DJ protected by a fresh Brodart transparent over-wrapper. A Good Plus copy in a Fair Only to Poor DJ. Scarce in any condition, and very rarely found with the original dust jacket. 1 lb. Robert Hans van Gulik was a Dutch orientalist, diplomat, musician (of the guqin), and writer. With thanks to Alcuin for the following commentary: "This rare monograph appeared in a small print run in 1938 and was published in China. Mi Fu (or Mi Fei) was the celebrated Sung painter, critic and connoisseur. Here is an important look at Chinese painting and calligraphy. Van Gulik noted that the Yen-shih furnishes material about Mi Fu's critical methods. Here the matter of the work is not merely the content but the role of ink, brushes, and silk as well as paper.".

Seller Inventory # 008691

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mi Fu on Ink-stones
• Publisher: Henri Vetch, Peking, China
• Publication Date: 1938
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fair
• Weight: 1 pound
• Seller catalogs:
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Graphic Arts
  • Chinese Art