Description [Reprint of a 16th century Chinese compendium of women's biographies.] Shanghai: Shenbaoguan, 1879. 2 volumes, 8vo. [2], 40; 40 double leaves + 78 double leaves of woodcuts (interspersed throughout, numbered to correspond with text leaves). In early hardcovers with original blue paper wrappers bound in. Bookplates of "Essex Institute / Special Library / China" to pastedowns and blindstamps of the same to corners of illustrated leaves. **************** Published by the English-owned Shenbaoguan Publishing House in Shanghai. The publisher focused largely on reprinting classics which it deemed to be of cultural value. Most of the works were no longer in print. Some of the works they published had previously been destroyed because they had been deemed "satanic" by the Christian-influenced Taipings. (Wagner, Rudolph. "Women in Shenbaoguan Publications, 1872?90.")
Condition Report Contents clean overall with a few instances of very minor foxing or staining, bindings with light wear of paper labels, overall Very Good.