Books

Jonques et sampans. Introduction de A. Thomasi. Paris, Horizons de France, [1945].
4to. Original printed wrappers, within the original chemise with printed label
on spine, and original grey slip-case; pp. 153, [5], title printed in
red and and black, one hand-coloured map of China and Vietnam, 140 handcoloured
illustrations in the text and plates. A printed slip, explains the
Chinese text on front cover, loosely inserted. a Fine copy.

First edition, number 404 of 525 copies printed. A rare and
beautifully produced work describing the indiginous ships of Southeast Asia,
recorded at a time when junks and sampans where still the standard types of
ships in use.

Frédéric-Charles Bargone, who published under the
pseudonym Claude Farrère, was a French novelist and traveller who was
in the French navy up to 1919. The artist Charles Dominique Fouqueray, had been an
official navy painter since 1908. He participated in two voyages to the Far East in 1921 and
1924. His rich pictorial material resulting from the Southeast Asian part of these
voyages is published here for the first time with the text commissioned for this
edition. Both artist and writer where perfectly suited for a book on the coastal
scenery and navigation of these waters, as well as studies of traditional sailing and ship
building techniques. The two travellers visited Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau,
Korea, Cheefoo, Amoy, Shanghai, Hangchow.

Not in the British Library or COPAC