[China]. LICENT (Emile). Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. - Lot 81

[China]. LICENT (Emile). Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly 1914-1923. Sien hien, Imprimerie de la Mission du Tcheu ly S.E, (1924). 3 large folio volumes, half eggplant cloth with corners, black cloth over boards (binding rubbed, a few leaves with reinforcements on spine, a few small tears and soiling, fold-out part of assembly map detached without loss, a few slight flaws not serious). Atlas only, comprising 208 maps (including title and assembly map) and 41 plates of photographic reproductions, including 15 double plates. French Jesuit missionary, entomologist and prehistorian Émile Licent (1876-1952) arrived in China in 1914. Upon his arrival in Tianjin, he set out to explore the country, his expeditions taking him to various regions of northern and central China. Licent worked with Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955). The present atlas reproduces the itineraries of trips made in 1916, 1917, 1918-19,1920, 1922 and 1923. To give an idea of the relief and appearance of the countries covered, the itineraries are illustrated with numerous photographs with cross-references (on the maps or on adjoining plates when they are numerous). "These maps were surveyed by direct route, using the Hossard compass, following a caravan of loaded mules; convoys of this kind walk at a very regular pace; for difficult sections of the itinerary (attacking and descending passes, slippery paths or paths strewn with obstacles, etc.), the length of the path covered was estimated, by eye, or by step, taking into account the slope. Unless otherwise indicated, the maps have been drawn at a very practical scale: one centimeter per quarter-hour walked". Volume 1. Title, [1] f. preface, 1 single-page map (which completes the title map), 51 maps num. 0-50 (map 0 dble dépl. being the assembly map), 4 photographic plates. - Volume 2. 101 maps num. 51-100 including 1 bis (87bis), 22 photographic plates including 6 doubles. Volume 3. 55 maps num 100-154, 15 photographic plates including 9 duplicates. Limited edition of 400 copies.