This Week's Featured Book

(CHINESE ART). Hunter, Dard. Chinese Ceremonial Paper. A monograph related to the fabrication of paper and tin-foil and the use of paper in Chinese rites and religious ceremonies. Chillicothe, Ohio, Mountain House Press, 1937. First and only edition, one of 125 copies, signed by Hunter. 29 cm., in the publisher's binding by Peter Franck of terracotta morocco with matching decorated paper sides. 3 ff., 79, (3) pp., 15 ff., with a plethora (somewhere in excess of 40) superb specimens, many folding, some dating back to the 17th century. Some offsetting from a few of the specimens as always, but overall a fine copy.

A remarkable text and one of the most beautiful of Hunter's extraordinary books. These were almost one-man efforts in many cases; Hunter made the paper, designed the type, and did the printing. This was in addition to his extensive world travels researching the text and collecting specimens. I have always preferred this work to Papermaking by Hand in America because of the the remarkable decorated papers contained. These were, in many cases, used in Chinese religious rituals, including funerals.

$5000