Arcana:

Author Not Stated. NP (Likely Peking, CHINA). ND (Circa Early 1930s).: No Publisher Stated. Edition Not Stated. Oblong 8vo. Gilt-Stamped Boards with Ties. Photographic Album. Near Fine/No Jacket - As Issued. 100pp, 100 individual 3 ¼ x 5 ½" black and white silver gelatin photographs. Text in English. In a protective clear acetate dustwrapper. Measuring 5 ¼ x 8 ¼" and gilt-stamped "Views Of My Tour / Peking" across its decoratively-embossed front cover, this is an elegant, professionally produced souvenir photo album likely made in Peking for the English-speaking Chinese tourist market sometime between the mid-twenties and the mid-thirties. Hand-assembled rather than printed, with no publication information other than the front cover title, its contents are one hundred vintage black and white silver gelatin prints of Chinese views loosely inserted into sequential album pages with typewritten captions in English glued below. Primarily architectural or archaeological in nature, the images depict Peking's Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple, Hall of Classics, Summer and Winter Palaces, Ming Tombs, various Pagodas and street scenes, and The Great Wall of China. A most handsome example of this uncommon item whose photographs are bright and well-preserved showing a tiny bit of flaking of the gilt title stamping and some crimping to the tips of the first few pages at the lower foredge corner that in no way affects the prints. Inventory Number: 026729