A remarkable, signed collector’s copy of a foundational work on early Chinese photography, originating directly from the personal library of the late Stanley Dutton Willis (1928–2024)—the beloved, legendary 30-year English and history master at Washington D.C.’s prestigious St. Albans School.
• Title: Imperial China: Photographs 1850-1912
• Authors: Texts by Clark Worswick and Jonathan Spence; Foreword by Harrison Salisbury
• Publisher: Pennwick Publishing, Inc., First Edition (1978)
• Binding: Hardcover with original dust jacket
【Special Features & Provenance】
1. Author's Autograph: Hand-signed in bold ink by the book’s principal researcher and photographic historian, Clark Worswick, on the title page.
2. Intimate Provenance: Features a contemporary inscription on the flyleaf: "for John - from Lucie 1978", representing a cherished volume from the shared Willis family library.
3. Scholarly Ephemera Included: Tucked inside is a rare, vintage newspaper obituary clipping of Kung Te-cheng (1920-2008), the 77th lineal descendant of Confucius. Preserved perfectly within this volume, this clipping adds incredible historical depth and beautifully captures the provenance of a true educator's working library.
【Condition】
The book is in very good vintage condition. Pages are clean, crisp, and tightly bound. The iconic black and gold dust jacket shows minor edge wear consistent with age but remains bright and highly presentable.
This volume explores "Imperial China" from 1850 to 1912—the final decades before the collapse of the Great Qing Empire's dragon throne. At the heart of the book is a photographic chronicle capturing the Qing royalty and nobility, the remnants of the imperial system, and the ancient traditions that the West once viewed as mystical symbols.
The Story Behind the Book
Included inside is a 2008 newspaper featuring Kung Te-cheng. He was the very last bearer of the "Duke Yansheng" (Duke of Qing Dynasty Nobility) title—modern Chinese history's final hereditary noble title, which had been passed down for nearly a millennium since the imperial era.
The Newspaper Illustration: It depicts Mr. Kung Te-cheng holding a traditional long-stemmed pipe, his expression lean and serene. The obituary headline poignantly states that he "spent his life sheltering ancient Confucian traditions."
A Historical Resonance: Placing this newspaper clipping alongside this collection of late-Qing historical photographs feels like a perfect handshake across time and space between "the sunset of Imperial China" and "the final echo of modern tradition."
When a reader closes this album filled with photographs of Qing Dynasty loyalists, eunuchs, and palace maids, and pulls out this original 2008 issue of The Wall Street Journal reporting the passing of the last Qing-ennobled Duke Yansheng, the profound weight and transience of history instantly wash over them. This is precisely the core "Soul of the Book" (The Story Behind the Book) that makes antiquarian volumes so magical.
