ASCANIO Books

Product Details

• Hardcover: US$75
• Pages: 132 pages, 297 mm x 225 mm
• ISBN-13: 978-3-940933-12-6
• Edition: 1800

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George Henry Mason

The Costume of China

The daily life of the common people in China, as it took place in the streets, shops and warehouses of the late 18th century was “still but little known by Europeans.” H. Mason published with his collection of 60 hand-coloured plates the first colour book of China in the Western world. It gave a completely new insight into life, habits, trade and costumes of this fascinating world.

The characters like the mandarin in his summer dress, the beggar with a monkey, the embroidering woman or the acrobat in his balancing act e.g. are described by explanatory notes and characterised by the pictures in their typical costumes and poses, as if just stepping into life again.

Product Details

• Softcover: US$20
• Pages: 172 pages, 210 mm x 146 mm
• ISBN-13: 978-3-940933-07-2
• Edition: 1577

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Title Page | Text 1 | Text 2 | Text 3 | Back Cover

Reprint Edition
Ascanio Jade History

Bernardin de Escalante

An Account of the Empire of China

Bernardino de Escalante included already in 1577 in this “Account of the Empire of China” the most remarkable features of Chinese culture:

the custom of drinking tea, the great wall, the use of chopsticks, the exquisite quality of porcelain and the daily use of it, the fishing by cormorans, aquafarming and the habit of footbinding for ladies of the upper class.

For centuries to come, these particulars will be connected with China in the mind of Europeans.

Still almost 200 years later, Thomas Osborne stated about Escalante’s book “Of all the accounts I have read concerning the policy and government of the ancient state of China I may venture to say, none has excelled this; or rather, that this had been the original and pattern from whence all that followed in the description of this country did take and copy their respective narrations”

Edmund Roberts

Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat

Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat; In the U.S. Sloop-Of-War Peacock, David Geisinger, Commander, during the years 1832 - 1834.

In 1832 US President Andrew Jackson started the first diplomatic contacts with “the countries of the Indian Ocean and the China Sea” with the objective “to place American commerce on a surer basis and on equality.” The envoy E. Roberts describes his mission to the courts and the customs, commerce and culture of the people he visited in colourful facets and great details, including his stay in China and the Philippines. The mission to Cochin-China failed, whereas with Siam and Muscat treaties were concluded.

The failure of negotiations with Vietnam was caused by the inability and unwillingness of both parties to understand each others’ culture and customs. In this book, the embassador reports the interesting details of the fi rst confrontation between the two nations.

Product Details

• Hardcover: US$153 (set of 2 volumes)
• Pages: 384 pages (volume 1); 112mm x 201mm, 394 pages (volume 2), 112mm x 201mm
• ISBN-13: 978-3-940933-02-7 (set of 2 volumes)
• 1st English edition: 1752
• Latin original: 1571

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Jerome Osorio

The History of the Portuguese

During the Reign of Emmanuel:
Containing all their discoveries, from the Coast of Africk to the farthest Parts of China; their battles by Sea and Land, their Sieges, and other memorable Exploits : With a Description of those Countries, and a particular Account of the Religion, Government, and Customs of the Natives. Including also, their Discovery of the Brazils, and their Wars with the Moors.{light blue}

During the Reign of Emmanuel (1495 - 1521) the Portuguese expanded their influence from the coast of Africa across the Atlantic to Brazil and across the Arab Sea , the Indian Ocean and South China Sea to the Moluccas. Osorio’s comtemporary history describes the men , who sailed into unknown oceans , fought fierce battles and forged alliances to win maritime supremacy and to establish “India Portuguesa” in the existing trading networks of the East.

The multitude of cultural encounters with dozens of civilisations, never contacted before by European nations, is equally fascinating and unparalleled history.

Set of 2 Volumes

E. Ysbrants Ides

Three Years Travels from Moscow over-land to China

“Thro’ Great Ustiga, Siriania, Permia, Sibiria, Daour, Great Tartary, & to Peking containing an exact and particular description of the extend and limits of those countries and the customs of the barbarous inhabitants; with reference to their religion, government, marriages, daily imployments, habits, habitations, diet, death, funerals etc”.

To travel in 1692 from Moscow to Peking was a daring enterprise, crossing Central Asia on sleigh and horseback. Ysberants Ides, the Dutch-born ambassador was sent by Czar Peter the Great to Kang-Xi, the emperor of China, to improve the trade relations. He met an unusual friendly reception in Peking…

This book is unique, due to the early description of Siberia and the eye-witness account of the Peking Court life. The detailed description of China “done originally by a Chinese Author” and the 30 superb plates make it a significant document of its time.

Frank Marryat

Borneo & The Indian Archipelago with Drawings of Costume and Scenery

Frank S. Marryat served as midshipman on H.M.S Samarang during her surveying mission 1843—1846. The vessel cruised for nearly four years the archipelago between Singapore, Nagasaki, Corea, Sarawak in Borneo, the Spice Islands , Hong Kong, Amoy and Manila.

The young author is fascinated by the mysteries of the East Indies, the colourful native peoples and the exotic scenery. In his vivid description, the drawings and the 22 magnificent colour lithographs a world comes alive, which has long vanished since. True to his conviction: “In describing peoples and countries hitherto unknown, no description by the pen will equal one correct drawing”.

John Cameron

Our Tropical Possessions in Malayan India

Being a descriptive account of Singapore, Penang, Province Wellesley and Malacca; their people, products, commence and government

The Straits Settlements and in particular Singapore in 1864: A vibrant description of the charming East, the various cultures, the pulsing life in harbor and city, man-eating tigers, the sparkling trade, secret societies and opium smoking.

All in the perspective of a Victorian author, who is keen to strengthen the Empire. “To preserve the predominance and permanence of British interest—commercial and political in the Eastern Archipelago”.

A visionary book of the Eastern emporium, emphasizing the enormous commercial potential, “…. the greatness, to which Singapore would rise.…, the physical beauty it can have few compeers” .

Basil Hall

Account of A Voyage of Discovery

To the west coast of Corea and the Great Loo-Choo Island with an appendix, containing charts and various hydrographical and scientific notices and a vocabulary of the Loo-Choo language.

After taking Lord Amherst’s Embassy in 1816 to China, the ships “Alceste” and “Lyra” started the expedition to the South China Sea. Captain Hall’s account added considerable knowledge about little known Korea and described the Ryukyu Islands for the first time in detail. The fine colour plates of scenery and costumes were drawn by W.Havell after sketches made on the spot by crew members.

Thomas Forrest

A Voyage to New Guinea & The Moluccas

From Balambangan: Including an account of Magindano, SooLoo and other islands; and illustrated with 30 copperplates. Performed in the Tartar Galley, belonging to the honourable East India Company, during the years 1774, 1775 and 1776, to which is added, a vocabulary of the Magindano tongue.

Cruising the Eastern Archipelago in a small boat of only 10 tons burden made the mission of Captain Thomas Forrest not only adventurous and arduous. It required very close contact with the natives of the islands and enabled much better insight into their social life and costumes than any other survey before and long time after this expedition. The colourful narrative of the voyage is therefore founded on solid firsthand experience, which is also shown in the fascinating plates with maps, plans and drawings of native scenes.

All orders are handled via secured Paypal and sent by registered airmail. Postage charge is US$9.50 (for 1st book) and a maximum charge of US$18.00 for order value above US$200.00 (regardless of the number of books you order).

Titles in preparation:

· Henry ELLIS: Journal of the Proceedings of the Late Embassy to China, 1817
· Spenser ST. JOHN: Life in the forests of the Far East , (2 volume), 1863
· John BARROW: Travels in China, 1804
· Vasilim GOLOWNIN: Narrative of my captivity in Japan, during the years 1811—1813, 1818