China - 20e eeuw

A rare and complete historical souvenir album: "Peking and Jehol" (ca. 1910).
This is a magnificent, early 20th-century bound photo book containing 87 high-quality collotype illustrations. Unlike smaller versions, this is the most complete edition, featuring the rare final sections: the Eastern Tombs (Tung Ling) and the Imperial Hunting Park (Nan-Hai-Tzu).
• Format: Oblong hardcover.
• Content: 87 full-page plates printed on the front (recto) of the pages. The book offers a comprehensive visual record of the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and daily life in late-Imperial China.
• Technique: Collotype (Lichtdruk), known for its fine detail and rich tonal range.
Condition:
The interior pages and the 87 illustrations are in good to very good condition, well-preserved and clean. The original decorative cloth binding is present, including the gold-lettered title. Please note: The front and back covers are currently detached from the book block due to age-related wear of the binding. This makes the album an excellent candidate for restoration or a rare source of individual high-quality prints.
Highlights of the 87 plates include:
• Iconic Views: The Great Wall at Nankow Pass, the Camel Caravans along the City Walls, and the Marble Boat at the Summer Palace.
• Imperial Heritage: Detailed images of the Forbidden City (Winter Palace), the Lama Temple, and the Temple of Confucius.
• Rare Final Sections: Includes the sought-after plates of the Eastern Tombs (Tung Ling) and the Imperial Hunting Park (Nan-Hai-Tzu), confirming this as the full 87-plate collection.
• Spirit Way: The famous stone animals of the Ming Tombs, including the stone elephants and camels.
Condition:
The interior plates are in good to very good condition, with the collotype prints showing excellent detail and contrast. The original decorative binding with gold lettering is present, though the covers are currently detached (loose from the block). This is a common occurrence for albums of this age and can be professionally restored, or the plates can be kept as individual artworks.
Details:
• Technique: Collotype (Lichtdruk).
• Number of Plates: 87
• Period: Late Qing Dynasty / Early Republic (ca. 1910).

Plates (Interior): The 87 collotype plates are in good to very good condition, featuring sharp details and excellent tonal contrast.
• Binding/Cover: original decorative cloth binding with gold lettering . However, the covers are currently detached from the book block.
• Overall State: While the binding requires professional re-attachment, the individual plates remain well-preserved and are highly suitable for either restoration or individual framing.
• Age-related wear: Minor foxing or edge-wear may be present on some pages, consistent with an album of over 110 years old.