China Under the Empress Dowager, Being the History of the Life and Times of Tzu Hsi. Compiled from State Papers and the Private Diary of the Comptroller of Her Household.

BLAND, J.O.P. (1863-1945), and BACKHOUSE, E. (1873-1944).

London: William Heinemann, 1911. [China] VINTAGE COPY, a later impression. Octavo (26 x 17cm), pp.xxviii; 525 [3]. With 26 black and white photographic plates, including a frontispiece, and a map of Peking. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine, and black titles and a red device to upper. Fore and lower edges untrimmed. A crisp, clean copy internally; some leaves unopened. Light toning to edges and endpapers. Repairs to split hinges. Wear to head and tail of spine; corners lightly bumped. Some dark splash marks to upper. Spine heavily toned. Very good. First published in 1910 as a genuine historical book about the period leading up to the Boxer Rebellion, it was subsequently proved that Backhouse's chief source was entirely fictional. Item #57506

Price: £65.00