4to. 116 lithographic plates including frontispiece, most in color. Original cloth-backed decorative boards, gilt-lettered spine, top edge stained green, others uncut.

FIRST EDITION, LIMITED ISSUE, number 293 of 750 copies, SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on front fly leaf. "A panoramic study of the art in China, tracing its origin and describing its actors (in both male and female roles), their costumes and make-up, superstitions and stage slang: the accompanying music and musical instruments: concluding with synopses of thirty Chinese plays" (from the title-page).

[With:] Original sepia tone photograph of Mei Lan-fang (1894-1961), tipped to front free endpaper verso, INSCRIBED BY THE ACTOR.