GILES, Herbert A.

A Chinese - English Dictionary [in one volume] - General Thomas Holcomb's / Jack Downing's copy

[Shanghai / London]: [Bernard Quaritch / Kelly & Walsh], [1912]. Second Edition. Half leather. 4to. Pp. [1,] 2-1711. Re-backed in half calf over blue-gray pebbled cloth covered boards, gilt spine titles between five raised bands, marbled endpapers, bookmark ribbon bound in. Lacking the title page, preface and reference tables. Former owner Thomas Holcomb signed preliminary and first page. Board edges rubbed, blister to front board, spine sunned. Leaves unmarked. Good. Item #10348

Former owner Thomas Holcomb served in the US Marines Peking Legation Guard from 1905 - 1914. Subsequently he commanded Marine Detachment, American Legation, Peiping, from 1927 to 1930, and served as commandant of the U S Marine Corps 1936-1943; Holcomb was the first Marine to attain the rank of General.

This copy was gifted by Holcomb's granddaughter Sarah to CIA spymaster and sinophile Jack Downing. A laid-in index card in Downing's hand attests to his veneration of Holcomb: He outlines Holcomb's service and the provenance of the Dictionary.

Though this copy lacks a title page, we have identified it as the revised second edition of 1912: p. 1711 Errata includes the date April 1912, and the entry for tao-3, To lead; to guide, gives eight examples.

Price: $1,450.00