[Qi qiao tu he bi - A collected volume of patterns of Tangram].
London, C. Davenporte and Co., [1802(?)].
Not in the British Library. A scarce Chinese block-printed tangram puzzle book, with an explanatory introduction in traditional Chinese and descriptive publisher's label in English. Much enjoyed by young and old alike in the West from the early 19th century onwards, these dissection puzzles (the individual pieces are called tans) have a much more ancient history in China.
'The following Chinese Puzzle is recommended to the Nobility, Gentry, and others, being superior to any hitherto invented for the Amusement of the Juvenile World, to whom it will afford unceasing recreation and information; being formed on Geometric principles, it may not be considered as trifling to those of mature years, exciting interest, because difficult and instructive, imperceptibly leading the mind on to invention and perseverance.—The puzzle consists of five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid, which may be placed in upwards of three hundred and thirty Characters, greatly resembling Men, Beasts, Birds, Boats, Bottles, Glasses, Urns, &c. the whole being the unwearied exertion of many years study and application of one of the Literati of China, and is now offered to the Public for their patronage and support' (publisher's label).
Not in the British Library. OCLC records just two other copies of A Grand Eastern Puzzle bearing the Davenporte imprint, one with watermark for 1808 at Princeton University, the other dated 1825 held by the University of Cambridge.
8vo (20 x 12.5cm); 35ff. of block-printed plates, watermark date 1802(?), 2ff. (i.e. one edge) uncut; original blue boards, publisher's label to upper panel, spine cracked with loss, extremities rubbed.
'The following Chinese Puzzle is recommended to the Nobility, Gentry, and others, being superior to any hitherto invented for the Amusement of the Juvenile World, to whom it will afford unceasing recreation and information; being formed on Geometric principles, it may not be considered as trifling to those of mature years, exciting interest, because difficult and instructive, imperceptibly leading the mind on to invention and perseverance.—The puzzle consists of five triangles, a square, and a rhomboid, which may be placed in upwards of three hundred and thirty Characters, greatly resembling Men, Beasts, Birds, Boats, Bottles, Glasses, Urns, &c. the whole being the unwearied exertion of many years study and application of one of the Literati of China, and is now offered to the Public for their patronage and support' (publisher's label).
Not in the British Library. OCLC records just two other copies of A Grand Eastern Puzzle bearing the Davenporte imprint, one with watermark for 1808 at Princeton University, the other dated 1825 held by the University of Cambridge.
8vo (20 x 12.5cm); 35ff. of block-printed plates, watermark date 1802(?), 2ff. (i.e. one edge) uncut; original blue boards, publisher's label to upper panel, spine cracked with loss, extremities rubbed.
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