The Chinese Empire, M. Huc — 1st Edition

£210.00

The Chinese Empire, M. Huc — 1st Edition

Name: The Chinese Empire, M. Huc — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5943
Price: 210.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1855.

Formatting: 8vo, 2 vols, pp. xxxii, 421; viii, 440.

Condition Report: Very Good. This two-volume set has been securely and sympathetically rebound in smart, modern blue cloth with contrasting red morocco gilt-lettered labels to the spines. The bindings remain exceedingly tight and square, displaying virtually no shelf-wear, fading, or bumping to the boards and extremities. Internally, the untrimmed text blocks exhibit the expected age-toning and mild dust-soiling to the deckle edges, typical of mid-nineteenth-century paper stock, yet the pages themselves remain remarkably well-preserved. The critical folding map of China in Volume I is retained and remains intact. Aside from occasional scattered spotting and the aforementioned edge-wear to the untrimmed margins, the interior is clean.

Catalogue Note: This is the first UK edition, complete in two volumes. Huc, a French Catholic missionary, provides a mid-nineteenth-century perspective on the religion, laws, and institutions of China, acting as a sequel to his earlier work, Recollections of a Journey through Tartary and Thibet. The first volume retains its folding map detailing the author's extensive route through the Chinese Empire.

Both volumes feature the contemporary ink ownership inscription "Malcolm MacColl / Trin. Coll. / Glenalmond. / 1855" to the head of the title pages. Malcolm MacColl (1831–1907) was a Scottish Anglican cleric and publicist who studied at Trinity College, Glenalmond.

While later printings of Huc's text are more frequently encountered, true first UK editions complete with the folding map are scarce on the open market.

A highly influential 19th-century travelogue, The Chinese Empire offers a rare, first-hand glimpse into deeply insular Qing dynasty China. Penned by the intrepid French Catholic missionary Évariste Régis Huc, the work chronicles his extensive travels and observations following his historic expedition to Lhasa. Huc provides Western readers with a rich, detailed tapestry of China's complex legal, religious, and social institutions just before the eruption of the Second Opium War, cementing his legacy as one of the era's most vital European chroniclers of the Far East.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: M. Huc

Book Publisher: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages:

Book Publication Year: 1855

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Modern Cloth

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.