SEGALEN, Victor, Gilbert de VOISINS and Jean LARTIGUE.
Mission archéologique en Chine (1914). L'art funéraire a l'époque des Han.
Paris, Paul Geuthner, 1923-1935. 1 text volume (4to) and 2 atlas volumes (38.5 x 28 cm). With 121 illustrations in text and 144 collotype plates in the atlas. Text volume in original printed paper wrappers. Atlas in original half cloth, printed paper sides. [3] ll., 304 pp.; XI, [1 blank], [3], [1 blank] pp.; 4 ll.
€ 6,500
First edition of an art-historical work on Chinese funeral monuments, dating mainly from the Han dynasty. The work was compiled and written by the French archaeologists Gilbert de Voisins (1877-1939), Jean Lartigue (1886-1940) and Victor Segalen (1878-1919), who was in charge of the expedition. The expedition was cut short due to the First World War. The two atlases contain 144 loose collotype plates, showing statues, tombs, mausoleums, reliefs and monuments as well as some of the sites, covering the areas of Nanjing, Shanxi and Sichuan. Scolarly descriptions of the plates are given in the text volume, along with small maps of the area, plans of the excavation sites and tombs and schematic reproductions of the artefacts.
Binding slightly rubbed along the extremities. Text volume and plates browned. Overall a very good copy. Couling, p.501.
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