41 folding leaves. Small folio (325 x 216 mm.), orig. yellow patterned wrappers, orig. stitching. Kyŏngsŏng 京城 (Seoul): 1928.

First edition of this rare work, printed by wooden movable type, that tells the life story of Chosŏn interpreter and diplomat (yŏkkwan) Hong Sun-ŏn 洪純彦 (1530-98). Impoverished in his youth, Hong made a name for himself with fluency in Chinese and a knack for international trade. The author of our book, Chŏng In-bo (1893-1950), was a prominent Korean historian and independence activist. In his Preface, acknowledging “the time gap” between Hong’s life and the time of writing, Chŏng notes: “I hope... More