Hu Chêng-yen. Shih-chu-chai chien-p'u. (japonice: collection of decorated stationery from the ten-bambus hall). 4 blockbooks with cut text pages and numerous original woodblocks, woodcuts and relief embossings. 31 x 18 cm. Block book binding with brown silk cord and original brooch covers with gold leaf speckling and mounted title plates in triple folding folder with brocade silk cover with mounted lid plate and 2 beige closures (cover plate slightly browned, edges slightly rubbed). Beijing, Jung Pao-Chai, 1952. The original was published at the end of the Ming period in Nanking in 1644-1645 by Hu Chêng-yen, a famous publisher, in a special color printing process that allowed reproduction of color shades. The first part was first reprinted in 1935 by the woodcut master and writer Lu Hsün, then published by the historian Chêng Chên-to together with the rest of the work in Shanghai in 1940. The booklets contain the letter papers, the motifs of which are arranged according to themes, partly multi-coloured and printed with embossed sticks. "The new prints, just like the original, are among the greatest masterpieces of print art. They are admirably accurately recut, printed in exactly the same technique as the original on the most magnificent paper and, like hardly any other reprint of an old work, replace the only original copy in the most perfect way" (J. Tschichold in "Die Bildersammlung der Zehnbambushalle" Zürich 1970, pp. 30-35). This is the volume with the beautiful relief embossings with representations of various ocha tea services, but also landscapes, people and several flowers. – Almost without any signs of use, continuously very fresh and printed in extremely luminous color and characterized in the very finest relief technique.