[Bible in Chinese]

PRESENTATION COPY, INSCRIBED TO JOHN MORRISON CHALMERS "of Hong Kong, in recognition of valuable service rendered to the [British & Foreign Bible Society] Society in China...", signed by members of the Committee, "delegate's version", 4to (312 x 225mm.), Chinese text, title printed in black and red, large type framed within an ornamental red border, original black morocco, titled in gold on upper cover, with bamboo pattern stamped in blind, gilt edges, front endpaper loose, slightly rubbed

Presented to the Scottish missionary John Morrison Chalmers (1825-1899), son-in-law of famed missionary and Chinese scholar Robert Morrison; thence by family descent

Darlow and Moule 2606

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A RARE EDITION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IN CHINESE, THE ORIGINAL OF WHICH WAS PRESENTED IN A SPECIAL BINDING TO EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI (1835-1908) IN CELEBRATION OF HER SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY.

In 1861, Cixi's infant son Zaichun became Tongzhi Emperor, and, after ousting the regents appointed by the late emperor, assumed the regency. After Zaichun's death in 1875, Cixi engineered that her nephew succeed as emperor, meaning that she effectively controlled the Chinese government for over forty years.

For several decades, Cixi maintained "a delicate, but not always successful" balance between treaty obligations agreed shortly before her reign which allowed foreign missionaries access to inland China and her sympathies for the anti-Christian movements which arose as a result (Liu, Lydia He, The Clash of Empires (2006), p.142). 

The idea of presenting Cixi with a bible on her birthday was proposed at the Shanghai Missionary Conference in February 1894, and a committee was quickly assembled to put the plan into action. The present lot is an almost exact duplicate of that presented to Cixi with an exception of the binding: Cixi's bible was bound in solid silver boards, and then laid in a matching silver casket.

This copy was presented to John Morrison Chalmers (1825-1899), a Scottish missionary in China and son-in-law of Robert Morrison, pioneer in the translation of the Bible into Chinese.

We can trace no other copy sold at auction in over 40 years.