Chinese Jade Carvings of the XVIth to the XIXth Century in the Collection of Mrs. Georg Vetlesen
London: Printed for Private Circulation (by B.T. Batsford), 1939. Limited to 100 copies. Original green crushed morocco gilt, 5 raised bands, gilt dentelles, silk doublures, t.e.g., others untrimmed. Fine.Limited to 100 copies "for gratuitous private circulation," this copy unnumbered and identified as "Author's Copy" by the author's wife. Collation as follows: Volume 1: xxvi, 284 pp. 3 color and 67 bw plates illustrating items 1 through 50. Volume 2: xiii, 307 pp. 4 color and 83 bw plates illustrating items 51 through 112. Volume 3: x, 304 pp. 2 color and 45 bw plates illustrating items 113 through 134, preceded by 74 line figures within the text. VG+, a superb and stunning set. Item #165393
This stunning and extremely rare set bears a lengthy inscription inside the first volume. It is inscribed to one of the founders of a private college-prep school with whom the Nott family apparently had close ties since its inception. The lengthy inscription is penned and signed by Lucille Nott and is dated June 1, 1957. Volumes 2 and 3 contain a briefer inscription of the same nature. Volume 2 exhibits browning to the leather spine as well as minor color fluctuations which may be due to moisture or dampness at some time. Volume 3, dated 1940, details the final 22 pieces in the collection (at that time) after a substantial essay on Chinese art, mythology and culture that spills over into how those topics are represented in art and Jade in particular. This Introduction extends to 130+ pages before the itemized descriptions and illustrations resume. The colophons in Volumes 1 and 2 refer to the set as being two volumes, whereas the colophon for Volume 3 states the set is three volumes. All three volumes bear the gift inscription of the author's wife and the assertion that this set is the Author's Copy. All three volumes with indices, and Vol. 3 contains Errata for Volume 2. Tremendous shelf appeal, and besides the Bush catalogue from 1906 (also printed in an edition of 100 sets) the most elusive Jade title one can imagine. Last set found sold at auction in 2011, 4 sets sold in last 39 years. None of those, nor those that follow, will be the Author's Copy. Worldcat locates 45 of the 100 sets in institutional libraries.
OCLC: 7426806
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