Quips From A Chinese Jest Book, Herbert A. Giles, Inscribed 1st Edition, 1925

QUIPS FROM A CHINESE JEST-BOOK.

Translated by Herbert A. Giles. LL.D. (Aberdeen), D. Litt. (Oxon). Professor of Chinese in the University of Cambridge, member of the Academie Francaise.

Printed and published by Kelly and Walsh, Limited. Shanghai 1925. First Edition.

Preface: The main object of this book is to exhibit some specimens of the wit and humour of the Chinese, nothing of the kind, so far as i know, having yet been put before foreign readers. Apart from the above, these "Quips" do actually shed some independent rays of light on social life in China; on the doings, and sayings, and thoughts of the people about women, priests, soldiers, doctors, middlemen, usurers, tradesmen, and rich and poor men alike. My best thanks are due to my son, Mr. Lancelot Giles, H.B.M. Consul, Foochow, who has carried out for me the troublesome task of index-making and proof-reading. Herbert A. Giles. Cambridge, September, 1924.

Inscribed on front end paper, "Mrs Willis from the Translator with love, 14 August, 1925."

Herbert A. Giles (born Dec. 8, 1845, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Eng.—died Feb. 13, 1935, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire) was an English scholar of Chinese language and culture, who helped to popularize the Wade-Giles system for the romanization of the Chinese languages.

Educated at Charterhouse school, London, Giles joined the consular service and spent the years 1867–92 in various posts in China. Upon his return, he lived in Aberdeen, Scot., until 1897, when he was appointed professor of Chinese at the University of Cambridge, succeeding Sir Thomas Francis Wade; he retained the chair until 1932.

Over the years he published a variety of books on Chinese language and culture that were popular into the second half of the 20th century, including Chinese Without a Teacher (1872), Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio (1880), Gems of Chinese Literature (1884), A Chinese Biographical Dictionary (1898), A History of Chinese Literature (1901), An Introduction to the History of Chinese Pictorial Art (1905; 2nd ed. 1918), and The Civilization of China (1911). His Chinese-English Dictionary (1892; 2nd ed. 1912) firmly established the Wade-Giles romanization system, which had been developed by Wade. Wade-Giles remained the most popular such system for English-speaking scholars until the official promulgation of Pinyin in 1979.

CONDITION:

Please view all listing photographs for the best understanding of the condition. There are some typical signs of age, use and wear. The binding is rubbed at the extremities, boards joints and corners surface worn through to the cardboard base. Head and tail of spine crushed and split. Joints holding strong, boards firmly attached. Surface rubbing and marks across both boards. The design of the cover shows the character known as "Haiao Ch'ou", the low comedian or Merry Andrew of a Chinese theatrical troupe. Paste downs and end pages yellowed, foxed with offsetting. Hinges very good, no splitting. Full page ink inscription on first end paper, "Mrs Willis from the Translator with love, 14 August, 1925". Text block age toned throughout, generally bright and clean. No loose or missing pages. 

The book measures 14cm x 20cm.

Overall the book remains in good reading condition. The binding is firm despite the visual surface wear along the joints. Interesting contents, rare gift inscription by the Translator Herbert A. Giles. First Edition.

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