Early Chinese Art, edited by Laurence Sickman, 3rd edition
Early Chinese Art, The University Prints, Series O, Section II, edited by Laurence C. S. Sickman
Published Massachusetts, USA.
This a scarce early example of this set which comprises a lidded dark green cloth covered cardboard box, with printed label, containing an introductory booklet and a set of 164 individual prints of examples of Chinese art.
The box is in very good condition with some sun fading and remains of original tape on rear along with small booksellers label.
This set is undated. We believe this is probably the third edition of the set - after research (and with much appreciation to the Spencer Art Reference Library at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City). The first edition booklet had a printed reference to 1938 which this does not have. This set was printed after all 4 volumes were available and we believe the last of these was first issued in 1941.
Very unusually, at the same time, we have a second version of this set, which we have recently acquired, which appears to have identical content, except for a dark blue slipcase, which appears to be older than this set. This would leave us to believe that this set was circa 1945. We have not been able to trace any information about the slipcase of the first edition as all that we could trace was a library re-bind of the first edition.
The 12pp booklet is is near fine detailing the contents of the plates. On the last page are pen marks crossing out the availability to purchase the prints individually or on glass slide.
The prints are in fine condition throughout. The first of these is a map of china, which is followed by many quality images of Chinese art including early pottery, bronzes, sculpture, painting and ceramics. A very attractive set indeed.
The prints run from number 86 to 250. This is because there were three other similar boxed sets produced on Early Indian Art, Japanese Art and Iranian and Islamic Art. This was the only one on Chinese Art.
Dimensions:
Outer box: 213mm high x 150mm wide x 29mm deep.