The Portuguese missionary Gabriel Magaillans noted some 300 years ago that . . . there are more vessels in China than in all the rest of the known world.' In a country so dependent on water transportation for thousands of years, this was almost certainly true. In the twentieth century the rivers and harbours of China still teemed with junks and sampans, and almost as amazing as their numbers was the huge variety of types, evolved over the centuries to meet the needs of all kinds of waterborne commerce. In this fascinating ...
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The Portuguese missionary Gabriel Magaillans noted some 300 years ago that . . . there are more vessels in China than in all the rest of the known world.' In a country so dependent on water transportation for thousands of years, this was almost certainly true. In the twentieth century the rivers and harbours of China still teemed with junks and sampans, and almost as amazing as their numbers was the huge variety of types, evolved over the centuries to meet the needs of all kinds of waterborne commerce. In this fascinating and brilliant account, the author, who for thirty years was a River Inspector for the Marine Department of the Chinese Maritime Customs service, described in detail the lives of the junkmen and the craft they sailed, a task made easier after he was released from his official duties in order that he might spend all his time on Chinese nautical research. This enabled him to travel in places not usually accessible to foreigners in China, and to sketch and write about the boats, the people, and their customs. His eight years of field research were carried out during one of the most disturbed periods of China's eventful history - amidst almost continual fighting, bandit raids, enemy occupation, floods and droughts - culminating, for himself and his wife, in a three-year internment in a Japanese prison camp. Five definitive works on the seagoing and riverine junks of China were the result of the author's research, travel, curiosity, and enthusiasm. Within the pages of this wonderful book, which has now acquired classic status, the reader is offered the chance to let an old China hand take him to one of the great rivers of the world for a last look at a timeless land just before modernity swept away a whole maritime culture. Stunningly illustrated with more than 900 drawings and photographs, this new edition will captivate historian, traveller, modelmaker and sailor alike. This unique book is a comprehensive and authoritative record of the vessels which for centuries provided practically the sole means of communication and transportation in the vast area drained by one of the world's greatest waterways,' _L K Little, former Inspector General of the Chinese Customs Service_ There is really nothing to compare it with, and it is unlikely that it will be superseded in the foreseeable future.' _The New York Times_
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Seller's Description:
Book. Quarto, 626 pages. In Good condition with a Fair minus dust jacket. Spine is grey with white print. Dust jacket in mylar. edgewear with small tears at spine ends and flap corners, creasing, shelf wear. Price clipped. Boards in cream cloth. Wear to spine caps and corners. Text block has orange tinted top edge. Illustrated: brown print drawings, sepia photographs. [Oversized book(s). Additional postage necessary for expedited/international orders. Economy International shipping unavailable due to size/weight restrictions. For international/expedited customers, please inquire for rates]. NOTE: Shelved in Locked Annex Area, Quarto and Folio Case. 1380651. FP New Rockville Stock.
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Seller's Description:
Good Hardcover in dust jacket. Book itself is very good: Clean text--NO writing, NO highlighting to text. Dust jacket shows some moderate wear with some edgewear, chips at fore-edge corners and head and foot of spine, two 1" closed tears at foot of rear panel, and sunfading to spine and 2" inch area near spine hinge. VG-/Good reading copy. Oversized. Clean text--NO writing, NO highlighting to text. PLEASE NOTE: Domestic US media (standard) US orders ONLY. NO international orders.
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Seller's Description:
Near Fine. Near Fine Dust Jacket. Folio-over 12"-15" tall. pp. 626. 626 pp. Tightly bound. Corners not bumped. Text is free of markings. No ownership markings. Near fine dust jacket.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good in Very Good jacket. Hardback. Tall 4to. (1988). Very Good+ in Very Good+ dust jacket. Few short tear to dust jacket. Owner's name, date and city on front free endpaper, No additional names or marks. 4th printing.