Lot 192
China.- Morrison (Rev. Robert) A Grammar of the Chinese Language, first edition, Serampore, printed at the Mission Press, 1815
Hammer Price: £3,500
Description
China.- Morrison (Rev. Robert) A Grammar of the Chinese Language, first edition, with Chinese characters to title and in text, errata leaf, ink inscription "John Williams 1853" to head of title, a few ink or pencil annotations and inserts, a little browned, a few spots or stains, book-label of John Selden Willmore, contemporary half calf, rubbed, rebacked preserving old gilt spine and red roan label, [Cordier BS 1661; Diehl 91; Löwendahl 782; Morrison I p.539], 4to, Serampore, printed at the Mission Press, 1815.
⁂ Rare. The first Chinese grammar written in English. "The Grammar was sent to the Bengal Government by the Select Committee, that it might be printed; but for some unknown cause the Ms. was kept nearly three years. At length, however, it was printed at Serampore, in 1815, at the expense of the Honourable East India Company". (Morrison, Memoirs, quoted by Cordier). The printing was supervised by Joshua Marshman, the Baptist missionary who had published his own Elements of Chinese Grammar at Serampore in 1814.
John Selden Willmore (1856-1931), Consular Official and Judge of the Egyptian Court of Appeal, was the author of several books on Egyptian Arabic.
Description
China.- Morrison (Rev. Robert) A Grammar of the Chinese Language, first edition, with Chinese characters to title and in text, errata leaf, ink inscription "John Williams 1853" to head of title, a few ink or pencil annotations and inserts, a little browned, a few spots or stains, book-label of John Selden Willmore, contemporary half calf, rubbed, rebacked preserving old gilt spine and red roan label, [Cordier BS 1661; Diehl 91; Löwendahl 782; Morrison I p.539], 4to, Serampore, printed at the Mission Press, 1815.
⁂ Rare. The first Chinese grammar written in English. "The Grammar was sent to the Bengal Government by the Select Committee, that it might be printed; but for some unknown cause the Ms. was kept nearly three years. At length, however, it was printed at Serampore, in 1815, at the expense of the Honourable East India Company". (Morrison, Memoirs, quoted by Cordier). The printing was supervised by Joshua Marshman, the Baptist missionary who had published his own Elements of Chinese Grammar at Serampore in 1814.
John Selden Willmore (1856-1931), Consular Official and Judge of the Egyptian Court of Appeal, was the author of several books on Egyptian Arabic.
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