58; 54 folding leaves. Two vols. 8vo, orig. wrappers, orig. orange block-printed title labels on upper covers, orig. stitching. [China]: first Preface dated 1929.

First published edition of the so-called “old Manchu archives” [Manwen laodang; M.: Manbun roto), Manchu documents chronicling the reigns of Taizu and Taizong from 1607 to 1636, edited and written up in the 18th century on the basis of pre-1644 archival documents. These archives, housed in the Chongmo Pavilion of the Mukden Palace, are invaluable for the early history of the Manchus.

This edition is a Chinese translation of the Manchu. While the translation is not... More