SOME CHINESE GHOSTS. by HEARN, Lafcadio

Boston 1887, Roberts. Yellow cloth, Chinese mask design on front cover,gold-stamped spine titles,185p.,notes, glossary, appendix, clean copy,spine a bit dull, contents firm,clean & solid. * RAREST YELLOW FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, STATE A * . *** **** *** . . HEARN'S SECOND WORK PUBLISHED IN BOOK FORM . . . RARE FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING . . . PER PERKINS YELLOW CLOTH IS THE RAREST FIRST ISSUE COLOR . . . MOST DESTROYED BY THE PUBLISHER . * A great Chinese classic of folk-tales & ghostly stories by Lafcadio Hearn, with Hanzi [Chinese characters] on the title page and also in the text. . CONTENTS: . The Soul of The Great Bell . The Story of Ming-Y . The Legend of Tchi-Niu . The Return of Yen-Tching-King . The Tradition of the Tea-Plant . The Tale of the Porcelain-God . These works were written in March 1886 when he lived in New Orleans, commonly called his "AMERICAN DAYS." These essays and short stories represented Hearn's growing interest in the Far East and its literature, folk-tales and other ghostly stories a pre-occupation. Written just prior to Hearn's interest in Japan. Representing Hearn's deep interest in fascinating places and things unusual. . *** RARITY OF THE YELLOW CLOTH COPY: Per Perkins [see below], there is definitely a priority of the colors of the binding, with the Mustard [aka yellow] cloth being the rarest of all other colors. . Per Perkins, he stated: "One of the scarcer of Hearn's book, since a large part of the first edition was destroyed by his publishers. See Tinker: LAFCADIO HEARN'S AMERICAN DAYS p.187.[see our book number 842220 posted to our website] . A premium has been placed on the copies bound in yellow cloth, due to their scarcity. This scarcity may be due to the fact that the copies destroyed by order of Mr. Roberts [the publisher] after his misunderstanding with Hearn were the ones bound in yellow, the red having been distributed." See p.13. . The red color binding was issued at the same and distributed, the yellow copies largely destroyed. Also issued in tan & rose. . The book top edge stained red, trimmed on all edges, figured end papers, front cover titles & Chinese mask in dark brown ink, spine titles in gold.. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** Dr. Matas was a personal physician and friend during Hearn's New Orleans days. . CONDITION: Per the above binding and other details, we add, each copy varies, please carefully read the copy description, condition and details prior to ordering. . Additional Copy Notes: We tend to be overly critical of condition. . Copy 2: RAREST YELLOW CLOTH, is contained in a clear Mylar dust jacket, it remains a very clean and solid example, with a tiny nick to the back cover spine about 5mm long, with a tiny bit of typical scuffing to the back cover spine edge, and a tiny bit of spine head & tail wear. contents remains exceptionally clean, bright and solid, in collector's condition.. . Copy 3: RAREST YELLOW CLOTH an exceptional example, superbly clean, solid, spine a bit dull, nevertheless a far and above average excellent copy, a tiny bit of rubbing to spine head & tail, contents remains exceptionally clean, bright and solid, in collector's condition. . Copy 4: RED CLOTH, an exceptional example, superbly clean, solid, with a few small dark spots on spine & front cover, a tiny bit of rubbing to spine top, no other issues, contents remains exceptionally clean, bright and solid, in collector's condition. . Copy 5 Green cloth, top edge red, has the copyright 1877 date on verso of title page, Per Perkins this is the [1907] FIRST ENGLISH EDITION from the American sheets. . Copy 9 Red cloth, this has a small [2 cm.] mendid split on the front side of spine hinge near the bottom, spine head & tail a bit rubbed. . *** BIBLIOGRAPHY: . P.D. & Ione Perkins: LAFCADIO HEARN A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF HIS WRITINGS: p.12, 13. * BAL 7916 . * .