WITH 64 PLATES (INCLUDING 8 IN COLOR) OF CHINESE JADE

POPE-HENNESSY, Una. Early Chinese Jades. New York: Frederick A. Stokes, 1923. Quarto, original gray cloth. $1800.

First American edition of this important reference work, with 64 plates (8 in color), illustrating 125 beautiful examples of Chinese jade including many never published elsewhere.

Written by Dame Una Birch Pope-Hennessy, this comprehensive and important reference work focuses entirely on Chinese jade. It covers all aspects of jade, from its cultural and historical significance to its use in objects ranging from weaponry to musical instruments to tablets to jewelry to objets d'art. The wealth of beautiful photographic plates add interest to this work, as well as offering a rare glimpse at many items held in private collections and never before photographed for another publication. Published the same year in Great Britain.

A few spots of foxing and finger-smudging to interior, only light rubbing to cloth. A lovely, near-fine copy. Rare.