Mennie, Donald: THE PAGEANT OF PEKING. Comprising 66 Vandyck Photogravures of Peking and Environs from Photographs. Shanghai, 1922. 40 pp text and 66 mounted b/w photogravure illustrations. 39x30 cm. Silk.

Third edition. Introductory text by Putnam Weale and descriptive notes by Samuel Couling. A magnificent book with a period feel on the glories of a city that has now changed immeasurably. The 66 mounted black-and-white plates epitomise the nostalgia of old Peking and show palaces, temples and the walls, camel trains, shops, sights outside Peking and a few people. The blue silk covers have extensive wear and the silk is detaching from the boards. Fading, wear and loss to the spine. Internally, generally clean with occasional foxing. Increasingly rare and hard to find. Priced accordingly.