History of the Insurrection in China with Notices of the Christianity, Creed, and Proclamations of the Insurgents
New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1858. First US edition. Hardcover. 12mo. Pp. viii; 301; followed by six pages of publisher ads. Frontis. portrait of Tien Te. With a fold-out map depicting "the Provinces of China Covered by the Insurrection from its Origin to the Capture of Nankin from the Chinese Original."
Bound blindstamped brown cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Gilt has worn away; general wear to binding, with corners worn through, head and tail of spine worn. Map has a two-inch closed tear along a fold. The FFEP has deliberate loss in the form of an excised 1.5" x 3" rectangle, presumably the removal of an inscription. Now in a clear, removable archival jacket. Good. Item #394 The work was first published in Paris, 1853; John Oxenford, who translated into English from that edition, speculates that Yvan wrote the narrative, with Callery serving as translator of documents and interpreter of events. Oxenford updates their account with a supplementary chapter, as the rebels were very much rebelling at the time of publication. Indeed, 1864 is generally accepted as the year the war ended. The account at hand is especially insightful due to their first-person observation of the sack of Nanking (here printed as "Nankin"). With good information on hostilities in Amoy (Xiamen). Oxenford praises the authors' depiction of life in China, and makes a point to underscore their humor.
A vital, primary-source(s) account of the Taiping Rebellion, which has the dubious rank as one of the bloodiest rebellion's in history. Joseph-Marie Callery was a missionary in China, prior to joining the French embassy as a translator. His co-author, Dr. Melchoir Yvan, served as the embassy's attending physician.
Price: $225.00