Paul Claudel - Connaissance de l'Est - 1914

The copy you describe is part of one of the most prestigious and sought-after editions in modern bibliophilia: the so-called “Korean” edition of Knowledge of the East by Paul Claudel, published in Beijing in 1914 under the meticulous artistic direction of the writer and archaeologist Victor Segalen.

Your copy, bearing the number 518, precisely belongs to the main issue of this literary-artistic work.

The Printing Details: the overall edition consists of 630 copies. Yours (no. 518) is among the 570 copies printed on Korean rag paper (sometimes referred to as rag belting).

The work is composed of 2 octavo volumes. The sheets are folded and sewn “à la chinoise” (printing on one side of the double-page paper).
The text includes 61 initials engraved, printed in red (vermilion ink) and black.
The whole is normally protected by a yellowed paper-covered cardboard slipcase with flaps (called t’ao) covered in blue silk or twined, closed by ties and bone brooches.

This work is particularly rare and actively sought after by collectors of Paul Claudel, Victor Segalen, and connoisseurs of oriental artist’s books.

This edition of Knowledge of the East has continuous pagination over the two volumes, totaling 226 pages of text, preceded by 6 pages of preliminary matter (title, dedication, table).