Artist Index: China

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). "Junks on the Pearl River (Zhu Jiang) near Canton (Guangzhou)". 1869-70. Albumen print. 22 x 27,5 cm. Signed by the photographer in lower right in the negative. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink in German below image on mount.

Slight fading in outer edges, some light surface scuff marks, otherwise in very good condition.

Lit.: Terry Bennett. History of Photography in China. Western Photographers 1861-1879. Quaritch 2010, ill. p. 228.

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). Family group, Hong Kong. Circa 1869. 2 albumen prints. Each circa 16 x 23 cm. Each mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink/pencil in German below image on mount.

Some fading in edges, some light surface scuff marks, otherwise in very good condition.

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). On the deck of a traditonal Chinese junk. Circa 1869. Albumen print. 18 x 22 cm. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink/pencil in German below image on mount.

Fading in upper/lower and right edge, some light surface scuff marks, otherwise in very good condition.

(Sylvester Dutton (1824-1866) and Vincent Michaels (c. 1832-1864), attributed to). Vhampoa docks, near Hong Kong. 1860s. Albumen print. 20 x 25,5 cm. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink in German below image on mount.

Some light surface scuff marks, light foxing in sky area, otherwise a strong print in very good condition.

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). "Entrance to Han-Quas Garden". 1869. Albumen print. 22,5 x 28 cm. Signed by the photographer in lower left in the negative. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink in German below image on mount.

Slight fading in lower edge, some light surface scuff marks, a few spots in sky area, otherwise in very good condition.

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). Temple on a canal, Canton (?). 1869. Albumen print. 23,5 x 28 cm. Signed by the photographer in lower left in the negative. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink in German below image on mount.

Slight fading in upper /lower edges, some light surface scuff marks, otherwise in very good condition.

Photographer/agency: Associated Press. Street life in Shanghai and one image of Nanking during the Second Sino-Japanese War. 1937-39. 6 vintage gelatin silver press prints. Most circa 20 x 14 cm and some larger. 2 with agency stamp and all with English press text label affixed to the verso.

The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan from July 7, 1937-September 2, 1945. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, when the USA entered the war, it was a scene of the Pacific War and thus part of the Second World War. One image shows foreign residents barricading their homes with sandbags to protect against flying shrapnel. – Some with traces of use, one photo with punch holes in left edge, otherwise in good condition.

Photographer: Thomas Child (1841-1898). Various views of the old Summer Palace in Beijing, including Marble Pagoda. 1875. 3 albumen prints. Each circa 18,5 x 24 cm and reverse. Mounted to thin card (buckled), annotated in pencil in English below image on mount.

All with foxing spots, Pagoda image with stronger spots, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Terry Bennett. History of Photography in China - Western Photographers - 1861-1879, Quaritch 2010, ill. p. 76.

Industrial views of China. 1940s. 10 vintage gelatin silver prints. Various sizes, most circa 20 x 16 cm, some larger. Mounted to board (toned and some foxing).

Three photos in this lot show Sichuan's gas and salt wells. Both mineral resources were used together, with the gas fire being available for the salt evaporation plants. Around the conveyors one can see the settlements or the so-called "wheel and buffalo quarters". These animals used wooden wheels to transport the brine upwards, where it was evaporated in the "furnace quarters”. – Most in good to very good condition.

Photographer: Thomas Child (1841-1898). Views of Beijing. 1876. 3 albumen prints. Each circa 17,5 x 24 cm. 2 signed and dated by the photographer in lower left in the negative, mounted to thin card (buckled), annotated in pencil in English below image on mount.

Two with light foxing, otherwise in good condition.

Lit.: Terry Bennett. History of Photography in China - Western Photographers - 1861-1879, Quaritch 2010, ill. p. 59.

Views of Hong Kong. 1890s.12 albumen prints. Each circa 22,5 x 29 cm and 19 x 27 cm (3). 9 mounted to board (warped), annotated in ink in German below image on mount.

Some surface scuffing, some faded, otherwise in good condition.

Photographer: John Thomson (1837-1921). "Residents of Canton". 1869. Albumen print. 23 x 28 cm. Signed by the photographer in lower left in the negative. Mounted to original board (slight foxing), titled in ink in German below image on mount.

Slight fading in edges, some light surface scuff marks, otherwise in very good condition.

Photographer: Lai Afong (c. 1859-1941, attributed to). Group portraits. 1880s/90s. 3 albumen prints. Each circa 21,5 x 27,5 cm. Each mounted to board.

This group includes a portrait of two richly dressed Chinese women in a studio, a fortune teller and a court scene. – Some light surface scuffing, otherwise in good condition.

Views of China. Circa 1890-1900. 11 vintage collodion paper prints. Each circa 21 x 28 cm. Some titled in negative; some annotated in ink on the verso.

The images include Canton, Fouchow and Macao. – Traces of use, some tears in edges (some backed), handling creases.

Photographer unknown. Official Chinese propaganda photographs. 1949-1970s/printed 1960s/70s. 9 ferrotyped gelatin silver press prints. Each circa 28 x 23 cm. Some annotated or stamped on the verso.

Some of the photos in this group document important turning points in 20th century Chinese history, such as Zhou Enlai with the Red Guards or the huge mourning rally on the occasion of Zhou's death in 1976 in Tiananmen Square, which was the cause of the so-called "Tiananmen Incident". Another picture shows the new party chairman Hua Guofeng during his 1977 tour of Europe in Romania or Yugoslavia, omitting the Soviet Union. Also included are two images of the modern Beijing Opera. – Some with stronger traces of use/ creases, edges curled, otherwise several in good condition.