The Shop Signs of Peking

Peking, China: Chinese Painting Association of Peking, 1931. Decorative Boards. Near Fine. A lovely copy of the October 1931 1st edition, limited to 100 unnumbered copies. Clean and Near Fine in the publisher's patterned, multi-colored ribbon boards, backed by a dark, string-tied leatherette spine. With 101 fine hand-colored illustrations on 18 sheer leaves, the oblong album measures 13 1/2" in width x 10 1/4" in height. The wonderful illustrations depict the specific shop signs (most of them designed to hang over front entrances), including public baths, saddlers, ginger, dairy, toilet sets, lamp wicks, horse tassels, drums, sesame oil, yellow rice, macaroni, swords, portrait painter, felt caps, whips, midwifery, soles for men's shoes, lanterns, cotton, glass toys, pipes, paper, hats, candles, cross bows, horse hair, eye medicines, tobacco, betel nut, snuff, plumes for officials, human hair, paper figures for funerals, bamboo shoots, cooking steamers, etc. In each case the hues are vivid and dramatic, the execution of the painting first-rate. Following the title page is an Oct. 1st 1931 Preface by H.K. Fung, Ph.D. along the recto and then, at the next recto, the Table of Contents. A striking example of early 20th century Chinese market life.