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Discovery of the Month
Cook’s circumnavigation, ethnological studies on the use of sago in the South Seas, the Eskimo’s art of kajak building, or a Baedeker with bars of chocolate instead of pages inside it – these are some of the many books that you will find in our stock.
On this page we offer rare, valuable, unusual or simply strange books on all aspects of my chosen field, and - occasionally - something completely different.
"Leichenstein auf dem Grabe der chinesischen Gelehrsamkeit "
Hager, Joseph. An Explanation of the Elementary Characters of the Chinese; With an Analysis of Ancient Symbols and Hieroglyphics. London, Richard Phillips, 1801. LXXVI, 43 pp. Folio. With 2, 1 folding, plates and many Chinese characters in the text. New half leather.
€ 3000,--
Hager's Chinese characters are occasionally comical, though he was not the only one of these early pioneers to err in this matter. He came under fire from Montucci, and especially from Klaproth, who despised him heartily. Klaproth wrote the splendidly titled tract "Leichenstein auf dem Grabe der chinesischen Gelehrsamkeit des Herrn Joseph Hager" (Tombstone on the Grave of the Chinese learning of Mr. J. Hager) in 1811, in which he utterly dismantles his theories. In 1802 Hager was commisoned by Napoleon to write a "Dictionare Chinois". Despite 5 years of work in Paris, he did not hand in a single sheet, and was sent on his way with a hearty thanks and a sigh of relief. - Despite all his faults, he accomplished something: European scholars began to take an inrterest in the Chinese language and the scientific study of that language can be said to have originated with his fumbling attempts. - Löwendahl, China Illustrata Nova 713; Taylor 275; Lust 987; NBG XXIII, 95. - Some slight waterstaining and warping to the text.