Aesop | Fables written in Chinese; Canton, 1840 and Davis, Poetry of the Chinese, London, 1829

Chinese literature—Robert and John Davis Thom

Two works on Chinese literature, 1840 and 1829, comprising:

Aesop. Esop's Fables written in Chinese by the learned Mun Mooy Seen-Shang, and compiled in their present form (with a free and literal translation) by his pupil Sloth [i.e. Robert Thom]. Canton: printed at the Canton Press Office, 1840, parallel text in English, Cantonese and transliterated Cantonese, errata leaf after dedication, double-sided plate of Chinese characters in preliminaries, original printed yellow wrapper pasted at front

John Francis Davis. Poeseos sinensis commentarii. On the poetry of the Chinese [from the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, vol. II]. London: J.L. Cox, 1829, PRESENTATION COPY inscribed by the author to the Royal Society of Literature

2 works in one volume, 4to (285 x 197mm.), contemporary half green calf, spine with gilt lettering and the monogram CD stamped at foot, binding slightly rubbed

Robert Thom's translation of Aesop was intended as a primer for the learning of Cantonese. Thom (1807-1846) worked for a British trading house in Canton and also worked as a translator during the First Opium War.

Sir John Davis (1795-1890) was governor of Hong Kong and the first president of the Royal Asiatic Society in Hong Kong. He learned Cantonese as a young man, during his first posting to Canton. His work on Chinese poetry was reprinted several times.

LITERATURE:

Cordier Sinica 1683 & 1791