Beschreibung
[China 1900-1912, Various Publishers]. Brown cloth album, ribbon tied, spine, 23.1 x 13 cm., gold stamped cover title, brown deckle-edge pages, very good, clean condition, 38 various photos & photo postcards, color and black & white. . *** **** *** . . PUBLIC BEHEADING IN CHINA . . KOWLOONG [sic for Kowloon, Hong Kong], CANTON, MANCHURIA, . . . NANKING, HANKOW, TIELING & TIENTSIN-PEKING . . * A stunning collection of bizarre and unusual images, seldom found. There were probably thousands of images of all walks of life of China done from about 1890-1945. While we have been an antiquarian Asian specialist dealers for 50 years, we have seen very few images of this subject, and never had an album with such a rounded and cohesive group on the subject of punishment, beheading and torture. . The Chinese legal system demanded severe punishment for heinous crimes, crimes against Confucianism and the state. The government exacted retribution in the most severe form of social and legal justice. . The most serious crimes such as harming one's parents or family members meant certain death, even dismembering called "LINCHI," where the criminal is cut into small pieces. This would mean his soul would never come to rest. . Beheading was the usual punishment for pirates, thieves and major crimes. The "cage" was for less severe crimes but often meant slow death by being suspended in the "cage" by one's neck until dead. The "cage" was used mostly on women for severe crimes, it could mean death or a very uncomfortable time. The "cangue" was for minor crimes and was used commonly for both men and women. . *** TECHNIQUE OF THE IMAGES: The album consists of some 38 individual original photographs in silver gelatin type images, standard photographs, hand-colored photographs, colored collotype photos and printed color collotypes. We have indicated the graphic technique with each description of the individual images. . *** SIZE: By and large most images are "postcard" size, give or take a few millimeters. Most are postcard format, that is on stiff card, with blank mailing address on the verso. . *** CONDITION: Each item is in very good or better condition. Where there is a condition issue, we point that out. If nothing is stated then it is in "very good or better condition." . *** DATES: A few of the cards are dated. We believe the earliest is from about 1900-1912. Some have postal dates, or written dates, others for example when Chinese wear the long braid queue, that indicates an image from just before or no later than 1912. . *** A LIST OF EACH CARD, ITS CAPTION AND TITLE: Not all cards have a title. Where there is not title we have attempted to put an appropriate title to indicate the subject. Most cards that have captions are in English, then followed by French, German and Russian. . *** TITLE/CONTENTS OF EACH CARD: . 1. English caption: "CHINESE COURT OF JUSTICE." This shows two criminals performing "Kow-Tow" by humbling themselves on their knees bowing down to the seated Magistrate, who is a Mandarin. He wears his official robe, sports sunglasses, wears the typical black hat, and review the charges at his desk. His deputy stands to his left, along with four other Imperial guards. Two of which each hold a long paddle to whip the criminals should they get out of hand. A scribe is seated to the Magistrate's right, brush in hand. The Imperial banner is in the background. The card is printed in collotype color. The verso states: "M. Sternberg & Co., Hong Kong. There is a penned Chinese greeting on the verso and a signature, else clean. Color collotype. . 2. English caption at the bottom: "EXECUTION OF 'NAMOA' PIRATES AT KOWLOONG [sic] for Kowloon." Eight British officials have witnessed the beheading of 12 Chinese Pirates on the beach in Hong Kong. Original silver gelatin photograph. . 3. Another b.w. photograph of the same as #2 above, in post card format. Original b.w. photograph. . 4. Another per above #2, 3 above, right, left corners broken away, Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 34011701
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